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24 | PROFILE THERESA TUCCI STEADY ON HER WHEELS “IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN, AND I’M THE PERFECT EXAMPLE” THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI • SPRING 2025 10 | FEATURE STORY GETTING REAL SAIT’S REAL FUTURES CAMPAIGN IS A NEW VISION FOR APPLIED EDUCATION 26 | FEATURE STORY SPARKING BRIGHT FUTURES CONNECTING YOUTH TO SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND CAREERSIt’s hard to see unexpected events coming. That’s why there’s insurance. Unexpected events are a part of life. And they seldom come with a “heads up” warning (wouldn’t that be great?). So how can you be prepared for something you don’t see coming? With Manulife insurance plans. They can help protect you and your family against life-changing events that can happen at any stage of your life. Choose from Health & Dental, Term Life, FollowMe TM Health and more. Get your free quote today. Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife). Get a quote today. Call 1-888-913-6333 or visit us at Manulife.com/sait Protection for what you don’t see coming. Manulife, Stylized M Design, Manulife & Stylized M Design, and FollowMe Health are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliatesunder license. Available to Canadian residents only. © 2024 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rightsreserved. Manulife, P.O. Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8. *Conditions, limitations and exclusions may apply. See policy for full details. Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. VisitManulife.ca/accessibility for more information.OKI, ÂBA WATHTECH, DANIT’ADA, TAWNSHI, HELLO. SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney. We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta. On the cover: The co-owner of House of Skate, Theresa Tucci (BA ’09, MGMT ’03, DESK ’00), laces up and hits the rink for her LINK photo shoot. Learn how saying “yes” to a life dedicated to movement led Tucci to dancing professionally, opening a dance studio for adults and — in her latest entrepreneurial venture — bringing back the beat for Calgary’s roller-skating community (story on page 24). TABLE OF CONTENTS 08 PRO TIPS Discover six Calgary tourist sites and activities selected by industry insiders to share with visitors this summer — or experience yourself. 10 FEATURE GETTING REAL As SAIT launches the public phase of its Real Futures fundraising campaign, LINK explores some of the ways the $100 million raised to date is already transforming who, how and what we teach. 22 HANDS ON Using real industry equipment in the Point Trotter Campus Operational Yard, Steamfitter/Pipefitter students work alongside Mobile Crane Operator students, gaining skills and confidence in working together on-site when the stakes are high. 26 FEATURE SPARKING BRIGHT FUTURES From summer camps to dual credit, discover the four “E”s in SAIT’s innovative Youth Engagement Strategy — and how they are helping new generations explore, engage, experience and enter post- secondary education. 36 INNOVATION TEACHING CODE WITH TECH SAIT instructor Fred Bretzke brings the National Plumbing Code of Canada to life with 3D videos and holographic images. 46 VALUE ADDED Discover the latest on perks, benefits and services exclusively for SAIT alumni. BRIAN BUCHSDRUECKER PHOTO 1 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK LINK is made possible through affinity programs with SAIT’s partner companies: Using the group buying power of SAIT’s 285,000+ alumni, these partners offer preferred insurance rates and comprehensive coverage. When you choose their products and services, you get low group rates and help support SAIT alumni programs and events. JOSIE CHU PHOTO IN EVERY ISSUE 06 THE BUZZ Your source for SAIT stories across campus and beyond. 38 LOOKING BACK A glimpse of the student- formed Art Club is revealed in the pages of the 1946–47 Tech Art Record. 40 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT News stories, SAIT updates and alumni achievements from the past six months, just ICYMI. NEW TOOLS IN SAIT’S TOOLBOX BRIAN BOWMAN, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT Consider this: artificial intelligence (AI) could be the most transformative technology since electricity. We use electricity in almost every aspect of our lives, and AI may become as ubiquitous in our homes as the extension cord. Together with the rise of the digital economy, AI is also transforming the workplace. Automation, machine learning and data-driven decision-making are reshaping industry, disrupting traditional roles and creating new career opportunities at an unprecedented pace. The question is no longer whether such forces will impact the workforce, but how we prepare our students to lead and succeed in today’s landscape. To meet these challenges, SAIT is rethinking who we teach, how we teach and what we teach — an ambitious approach that’s at the heart of our Real Futures campaign. On page 10, you can read more about this $150-milllion fundraising initiative and how it’s addressing the reality of a changing world. As SAIT alumni, LINK readers have experienced our mission first- hand: to equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and adaptability required to hit the ground running. We’re proud of our history, our dynamic alumni family and the many thousands of careers we’ve helped launch. As we look to the future, it's not about tossing out the tried and tested hands-on learning for which SAIT is known; it's about building on our strengths and adding new tools to our toolbox. That’s something we can all get excited about in an age of disruption and uncertainty. I hope you’ll join in the excitement as a proud SAIT grad — real proof that Real Futures begin here! 2 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK IN THIS ISSUE: SPRING 2025Editor-in-Chief: Brian Bowman Supervising Editor : Astrid Gagnier Managing Editor: Alison O’Connor Editor: Nancy Cope Online Editor: Nicole Brandt Creative Director: Michelle Atkinson (NMPD ’03) Copy Editor: Colleen Lavender Advancement Assistant: Lou Borromeo Advertising Sales: Astha Vohra Printing: BP Media Inc. Cover photo: Kokemor Studio LINK is published twice a year by SAIT Alumni and Development as a service to Southern Alberta Institute of Technology alumni, donors, students, partners, faculty and staff. LINK invites your comments and letters to the editor. Please direct them to alumni@sait.ca. SAIT Alumni and Development 1301 – 16 Avenue NW Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 Phone: 403.284.7010 Address updates: 403.284.7010 For all other inquires: Email: alumni@sait.ca sait.ca/alumni Publications Mail Agreement No.40064317 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department 1301 – 16 Ave. NW Calgary, AB T2M 0L4 FOCUS ON ALUMNI 04 PROFILE: ROB SAWCHUK Cinema, TV, Stage & Radio ’04 20 PROFILE: LOLA ADEYEMO Project Management Certificate of Completion ’24 24 PROFILE: THERESA TUCCI Business Administration ’09, Management ’03, Desktop Publishing ’00 42 CLASS NOTES 48 ON THE JOB: SHANNON FRASER Cabinetmaker ’07 CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT Fred Bretzke (Master Journeyperson ’84), 2024/25 Cadmus Trades Teaching Chair Teaching Code with Tech, p. 36 For Fred Bretzke, mountain climbing is more than recreational. “I can’t spend too much time behind a computer, so I break that up with hiking and climbing,” he says. But sometimes Bretzke’s outdoor excursions lead him right back to the computer. “Every time I go into the beautiful Alberta mountains, I get ideas.” That’s exactly how Bretzke’s latest project came to be. “One of my academic chairs suggested I try for the Cadmus Trades Teaching Chair,” Bretzke explains. Unique in Canada, it lets SAIT instructors explore new ways of teaching. “I had applied before and came in second in 2012.” But this time, he had no project ideas. “So I went climbing.” And it worked. “I started thinking, well, QR codes are popular now, and my 3D plumbing videos are posted on YouTube.” So Bretzke submitted a proposal to create an interactive version of Canada’s National Plumbing Code appendix, complete with QR codes and holograms — earning him the 2024 Cadmus Chair and resulting in an innovative approach to demonstrating plumbing codes and their practical application for students. — Sal Sawler BRITTNEY WOJCIK-HARRISON PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS 2C Media, Alyssa Athanasopoulos (RTBN ’09), Allison Bautista, Fred Bretzke (Master Journeyperson ‘84), Brian Buchsdruecker, Cheng Feng Chiang via Getty Images, Josie Chu, Nancy Cope, MartinM303 via Getty Images, Sarah Graham (RPAS ’23), Ryan HK (JA ’06) , HarderLee Photography, Kokemor Studio, Lisa Marie via Getty Images, Torval Mork via Getty Images, Ashley Naud (JA ’10) , Keagan Perlette, Tuan Pham, Zach Robertson, Eric Rosenbaum, Roth and Ramberg Photography, SAIT Archives, Sal Sawler, Julie Sengl, Giselle Wedemire (JA ’13) , Brittney Wojcik-Harrison, Michelle Woodard Stay connected @SAITAlumni Update your contact information by visiting sait.ca/alumni and clicking on Stay Connected. Check out the Alumni Business Directory at sait.ca/alumni/business-directory . Send us a Class Note by going to sait.ca/alumni/get-involved , then clicking on Submit Class Note. 3 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK BEST OF DISTRICT 2024 platinum winnerRYAN HK PHOTO 4 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK ALUMNI PROFILE: ROB SAWCHUK MUSIC, CULTURE AND GOOD VIBES APPAREL AND RECORD SHOP TURKEY & PISTOLS STARTED AS ROB SAWCHUK’S SIDE-HUSTLE. NOW IT’S A CREATIVE SPACE THAT’S BUILDING COMMUNITY. A long Alberta’s iconic Cowboy Trail, the hamlet of Bragg Creek serves as a gateway to Kananaskis Country and outdoor adventures. Near the corner of the hamlet’s authentic boardwalk, behind a hitching post and beside an old stagecoach, stands Turkey & Pistols — a shop dedicated to art, music and the beauty of nature. When you walk inside, you’re likely to find owner Rob Sawchuk (TSR ’04) in the middle of a deep-dive discussion with a fellow customer about rare vinyl pressings; the inspiration behind his designs on t-shirts, hoodies and hats; dream guitars; John Prine lyrics; or the weather. Every guest who visits and every conversation shared helps build Sawchuk’s vision of creating a safe and welcoming space that celebrates local community — all through the joy of music and creativity. LINK writer Zach Robertson sat down with Sawchuk to chat about the power of live music, local culture, great stories and common ground. WHAT’S THE ORIGIN STORY BEHIND TURKEY & PISTOLS? In 2017, I took three months off from my job to help my wife through a difficult health issue. I started out making signs, and that gave me a creative outlet and some passive income. So it all started out of my basement, using an Instagram account and inspired by a John Prine song. HOW DID YOU GO FROM YOUR BASEMENT TO THIS COOL LOCATION IN BRAGG CREEK? We did a pop-up test in Redwood Meadows — it was a ukulele night where people came by to jam and where I was selling local printed shirts and a small selection of vinyl records. In 2023, we pulled the trigger to move the merch company here, where I have a storefront full of apparel and records with an in-house printing shop in the back. WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION? The real heart of this place is the people and the small-town vibes out here. I want to use my art and my design to showcase and elevate the community. HOW DOES YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC COME INTO COMMUNITY BUILDING? Music is a place where we can all find common ground — our cultures and our communities need stories. And that’s country music. It can be one person, one instrument and a great story, and it doesn’t matter what colour you are or how old you are; you can relate to it. WHAT’S YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE? We host an open mic night at the local saloon and I’m trying to build a place where local, authentic artists feel safe and encouraged to be original and different. And I want this space to be somewhere anyone can come, talk and connect. Photographer Ryan HK (JA ’06) created this portrait on Ilford HP5 PLUS film using a Canham 8x10 field camera and Fujinon-W 300mm f/5.6 lens. “There's something magical about viewing the composition through the ground glass, then being able to take each sheet of film into the darkroom to make a one-off contact print for my subject,” Ryan says. “Large format portraits always have such a special aesthetic to me.” Check out Rob Sawchuk on Instagram @turkeyandpistols, where he posts stories, video and upcoming events. 5 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK THE BUZZ Your source for what’s happening across campus and beyond. Looking for stop- the-press information on SAIT news and events? Find it at sait.ca/alumni. SHAPING TOMORROW’S REAL FUTURES On Feb. 11, 2025, SAIT invited its community and the public to join in supporting Real Futures — a fundraising campaign to reimagine applied education through new technologies, revitalized learning spaces, and new ways of teaching in a changing world. “Real Futures is setting a course to raise $150 million, transforming how we teach, who we teach and what we teach,” says Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO. “This campaign represents SAIT’s commitment to ensuring our students, communities and industries prosper. And to ensure tomorrow’s leaders are ready to channel constant change into new possibilities.” More than $100 million has already been raised over the past six years, spearheaded by a $30-million gift from Calgary business leader and philanthropist David Bissett in 2019. It paved the way for SAIT’s School for Advanced Digital Technology and was followed by an unprecedented number of major donations from key industry partners and community leaders. “The world is changing, and SAIT is changing with it. We’re ensuring students have the skills needed to succeed and industry has the talent it needs to thrive,” Ross says. See page 10 to learn how Real Futures is already creating a digital and technological transformation across SAIT’s academic schools. sait.ca/RealFutures FIRST-EVER WINTER CONVOCATION SAIT’s new Winter Convocation ceremonies will help improve the graduation experience for students whose credentials are conferred at the end of each winter semester. Until now, they have had to wait until June to cross the stage and receive their parchments at Spring Convocation ceremonies. February ceremonies will also reduce the size of spring ceremonies, making them more manageable. At the first Winter Convocation on Feb. 27, SAIT welcomed 1,787 graduates to its alumni family, with 964 grads crossing the stage of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium during two ceremonies. 2C MEDIA PHOTO 6 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK NEW AND NOTEWORTHYHALL ESTATE CREATES A LASTING LEGACY FOR STUDENTS The Estate of Arthur George “Bud” Hall has announced its support of the Real Futures campaign with a gift of $3.5 million to help fund construction of SAIT’s Taylor Family Campus Centre. An avid sportsperson, Hall enriched the lives of those he knew. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 92, and his legacy gift will enhance student wellness and build community. Opening in late 2027, the Taylor Family Campus Centre will transform how SAIT students learn, offering student-focused spaces supporting health and well-being, campus athletics and recreation, and campus life, as well as teaching and learning. “This is an endeavour that would have made Bud proud,” says Shelly Norris, Hall’s cousin and executor of his estate. “Investing in the Taylor project is the perfect fit, because one of Bud’s philosophies was, ‘If you can’t stay healthy, you can’t move forward.’” CENOVUS ENERGY GIFT TRANSFORMS APPLIED ENERGY EDUCATION As part of the Real Futures campaign launch, Cenovus Energy announced a $3.7-million gift to support curriculum revitalization, upgrade equipment and technology, and reinforce SAIT’s ability to provide real-world training. In recognition of the company’s ongoing support of students, SAIT has renewed the 10-year naming of its Cenovus Energy Centre. “SAIT continues to be an important partner for our company, offering innovative education programs that prepare students for rewarding careers in the oil and gas industry,” says Jeff Lawson, Cenovus Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development & Chief Sustainability Officer. "Through the Real Futures campaign, we look forward to seeing energy-related programs shape the future workforce to tackle the opportunities and challenges our industry faces.” Cenovus' support of SAIT’s School of Business and MacPhail School of Energy reflects industry’s changing needs and the interdisciplinary thinking shaping today’s energy sector in Canada and internationally. BY THE NUMBERS: 2023/24 SAIT SURVEY RESULTS LEARNER EXIT SURVEY (1,890 RESPONDENTS) 90% were satisfied with the overall quality of educational experience 91% would recommend SAIT GRADUATING APPRENTICE SATISFACTION SURVEY (685 RESPONDENTS) 94% were satisfied with the overall quality of educational experience SAIT EMPLOYER SATISFACTION SURVEY (903 RESPONDENTS) 92% were very or somewhat likely to hire SAIT graduates 2024 LINK READERSHIP SURVEY (611 RESPONDENTS) 78% find at least one interesting article every issue SUPPORTING HEALTH-CARE EDUCATION A $30-million investment through the Government of Alberta's 2025–26 budget will support SAIT’s Taylor Family Campus Centre in developing an integrated health-care education component. Covering health, dental, vision, pharmacy services and mental health support, each space in the new building will support work-integrated learning while also enriching the student experience. The Taylor Family Campus Centre will open in late 2027. sait.ca/campuscentre 7 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK CAMPAIGN CHAMPIONS As SAIT launches Real Futures — the largest fundraising campaign in its 109-year history — it has also convened a Campaign Cabinet. Meet the volunteers lending their expertise to help support and ensure the campaign’s success. “I love that SAIT is always ready to be a critical partner in responding to how the world of work has evolved. Real Futures is poised to deliver transformative impacts across how, who and what we teach — forging a clearer path for SAIT, our city and province, and countless SAIT students and graduates.” RANDY UPRIGHT Real Futures Campaign Chair CEO, Manpower Services Alberta CABINET MEMBERS GURSH BAL (AELP '16, OYA '19) Co-CEO, Zeno Renewables TONYA FLEMING Manager, Private Markets & Innovation, Alberta Securities Commission SHELLEY KUIPERS (PT '87, DA '21) CEO, General Partner at The51 KIRK MUISE Regional President, Alberta & Territories, RBC DEAN KOELLER President and CEO, Calvert Home Mortgage Investment Corporation CAMPAIGN EXECUTIVE DR. DAVID ROSS SAIT President and CEO HEATHER MAGOTIAUX Vice President, Student Affairs and External Relations JANET WELCH Vice President, Academic BRIAN BOWMAN Associate Vice President, Advancement CHERIE BOWKER Dean, School for Advanced Digital Technology TANIA BRANDSTROM Director, Advancement Operations & Campaigns ANTHONY SALEKIN Associate Director, Development RACHAEL LEHR Principal Gifts and Campaign ManagerNext >