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28 | ALUMNI PROFILE ON VIBE AND IN VOGUE CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS ART, MODERN TECH AND HIGH FASHION 20 | FEATURE STORY AI FOR GEN X INTEGRATING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AT MID-CAREER 10 | FEATURE STORY TRAILBLAZERS MEET THIS YEAR’S ALUMNI AWARDS RECIPIENTS THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI • FALL 2024It’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: Earlier this year, a bolo tie by Alex Manitopyes (NMPD ’17) was featured in Vogue. Here Manitopyes — founder of the SACRD THNDR jewellery brand — wears a rose bolo tie from the Nîcîmos collection, a collaboration with Toronto-based fashion stylist Scott Wabano. Find Manitopyes modelling one of SACRD THNDR’s latest designs on page 28. TABLE OF CONTENTS ADOBE FIREFLY AI GENERATED IMAGE 08 PRO TIPS Stefanie Alloway, School of Health and Public Safety instructor, shares SMART ideas for making healthy nutritional choices. 10 FEATURE TRAILBLAZERS Meet the five recipients of SAIT’s 2024 Alumni Awards and discover how self-discovery, resilience, kindness and a drive to give back are common threads throughout their lives. 18 HANDS ON Students in the School of Manufacturing and Automation’s specialized Robotics and Automation Lab are learning on industry-standard automated assembly stations. 20 FEATURE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: STEP INTO THE BRAINSTORM In a recent Leger poll, only 13% of respondents 55 and older reported having used Artificial Intelligence. LINK explores why they might want to try — and how to get started. 30 FEATURE MORE THAN A LOGO What goes into refreshing an established brand? Go behind the scenes as SAIT works to evolve its brand and reflect changing student demographics in a changing post-secondary landscape. 34 INNOVATION TAKEOUT TAKEAWAYS New collaborative research puts plant-powered alternatives on the table for replacing single-use plastic containers. 46 VALUE ADDED Discover the latest on perks, benefits and services exclusively for SAIT alumni. 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 281,000+ 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. 45 LOOKING BACK Remembering the celebrations in 1990 as SAIT’s stalwart library card catalogue was retired and a computerized catalogue system introduced. 36 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT News stories, SAIT updates and alumni achievements from the past six months, just ICYMI. STUDENTS, THEIR STORIES, AND GIVING BACK BRIAN BOWMAN, ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT Often as I’m walking across campus, surrounded by students rushing between classes or grabbing a coffee, I wonder about their stories. What was the journey that brought them here? For many, the path to a SAIT education wasn't as simple as you might think. Every year, the Alumni and Development office distributes millions of dollars in student awards. Some awards recognize academic achievement, but many give financial support based on need. The stories our student award recipients share with us are sometimes intensely moving and often deeply inspiring. When I was a student, I lived at home, went to university and worked a couple of part-time jobs to pay my way. But I had it easy. Many of today's students are far from home, living on their own for the first time, paying high rents, and scraping by on meager incomes. Some have young families and are carving out a better life, making short-term sacrifices for long-term gains. Some rely on the food bank or access emergency funding. In this issue, we introduce you to five alumni who have also overcome adversity: SAIT’s 2024 Alumni Award recipients. Each one embodies both resilience and a drive to help others rise above obstacles in their way. They remind us that post-secondary studies are not always easy, and that — when students need an extra hand, despite their best efforts and fortitude — there are supports and resources available. I hope you will enjoy reading the stories behind our Alumni Awards recipients, whatever your path. And if, like them, you’re also looking for a way to give back, turn to page 47 to discover how subscribing to an exclusive alumni discount with Fresh Prep will help provide emergency meal kits to SAIT students facing food insecurity. 2 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK IN THIS ISSUE: FALL 2024Stay 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 Stay Connected. Editor-in-Chief: Brian Bowman Supervising Editor : Astrid Gagnier Managing Editor: Alison O’Connor Editor: Nancy Cope Online Editor: Nicole Brandt Creative Direction, Design and Production: Michelle Atkinson (NMPD ’03) Copy Editor: Cathi Bishop Advertising Sales: Josh Naud 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: PRABHDEEP BRAR Journalism — Print and Online ’21 28 PROFILE: ALEX MANITOPYES New Media Production and Design ’17 40 PROFILE: CONNOR BURROWS Bachelor of Business Administration — Supply Chain Management ’23 42 CLASS NOTES 48 ON THE JOB: JIMMY ISSA Glazier ’24 CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT Ashley Naud (JA ’10) More Than a Logo, p. 30 “Whenever I interview someone, I’m looking for what motivates them,” says freelance writer Ashley Naud. “So one of my first questions for SAIT’s Marketing VP, Paul Lacap, was how he came to be leading the Institute’s brand refresh. As Paul described his personal journey, I knew that was the story I wanted to zero in on.” In 2015, Naud’s storytelling instincts landed her the role of Content Specialist for SAIT’s centennial celebrations and inspired her to create the popular #SAITstory series. Her digital story The Last Post — a profile of SAIT alumnus Winston Parker (Agricultural Mechanics and Tractors ’39) — won silver at the 2019 Alberta Magazine Publishers Association Awards. “The greatest gift I receive through my work is when someone trusts me with their story,” Naud says. “Paul explains how branding is about getting SAIT’s story into the world so more people can find us, and I know how SAIT helped me find direction in my own life. “I think many alumni have had that experience, and I hope this story inspires them to continue being part of the SAIT story.” JOSIE CHU PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Adobe Firefly, Jennifer Allford, Alyssa Athanasopoulos (RTBN ’09), Brian Buchsdruecker, Josie Chu, Nancy Cope, Hector Flores (NMPD ’17) , HarderLee Photography, Kate Künz (ACA ’84), Kokemor Studio, Ashley Naud (JA ’10) , Danielle Paetz, Gwendolyn Richards, Zachary Robertson, Eric Rosenbaum, SAIT Archives, SAIT Supernovas, Sal Sawler, Julie Sengl, Story Studio via getty images, Student Life Network, John Ulan, Candice Ward (JA ’08) , Giselle Wedemire (GRDN ’23, JA ’13) 3 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK BEST OF DISTRICT 2024 platinum winnerON ASSIGNMENT TO INDIA HOW A TWIST OF FATE LED PRABHDEEP BRAR TO COVERING THE WORLD’S BIGGEST ELECTION TEXT BY ERIC ROSENBAUM | PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN As a little girl growing up in rural Rajasthan — a state in northwestern India — Prabhdeep Brar (JAPO ’21) remembers watching TV news with her father and imagining herself at the anchor desk. “I want to do that job,” she told him. But educational options were limited in her village and a broadcast career wasn’t practical. Ultimately Brar studied information technology at a nearby college, then came to Canada on a student visa to further her computer studies at SAIT. Once on campus, Brar discovered SAIT has a Print and Online Journalism program. Her interest in broadcasting reignited, she switched to journalism studies. Today Brar produces news and current affairs programs in Punjabi, Hindi and English at My Radio 580, an Edmonton-based multilingual, multi- ethnic broadcaster. She also manages the station’s social media platforms. “I’ve covered events around Alberta, but a huge opportunity came when I was asked to cover the election in my home country — the biggest parliamentary election in the biggest democracy in the world,” says Brar. Assigned to interview politicians and residents in the state of Punjab (where most of her Indo-Canadian audience is from), she arrived in May in the middle of a 52° C heat wave. Brar knew it would be a gruelling two weeks on the campaign trail, mostly outdoors, so a big challenge was staying hydrated, eating properly and getting enough rest. “There was really no such thing as a typical day covering the election,” Brar says. “I had to always be ready for an interview. Sometimes, I’d book one and it was cancelled without notice. Other times, they were there on time. You’d never know. “I’d start around 6:30 in the morning because it was the best time to meet candidates, but then they’d fail to show up and we’d wait for hours. For example, I arranged to interview the former Chief Minister of Punjab at 7:30 in the morning. There were five other reporters there. We were told to follow him from village to village, city to city, all day long. At 5 o’clock we told his staff we were leaving, and he finally gave us some time. “As for the local residents,” she adds, “it was difficult to convince people to talk about issues such as health care and unemployment. Many were worried about their safety and security. Many don’t trust the media.” The audience for Brar’s election coverage included Indian residents tuning in via social media. “They listened to my reporting because, unlike national Indian media, our stories aren’t tied to a party line. We are less biased,” she says. Brar loves her My Radio 580 job and says her long-term goal is to work in media with global reach such as the BBC or CNN. 4 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK ALUMNI PROFILE: PRABHDEEP BRAR 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. POP-UP WELCOME CENTRE As construction progresses on the new Taylor Family Campus Centre, SAIT gave students at Fall 2024 Orientation a taste of its planned Welcome Centre experience. This temporary pop-up Welcome Centre, created on Heritage Hall’s main floor, helped students connect with SAIT staff and services and was the first of many pop-ups scheduled for key academic periods. When the Taylor Family Campus Centre opens in late 2027, the SAIT Welcome Centre will be a collaborative hub offering a centralized access point for student services as well as self-serve kiosks, bookable study rooms, and spaces to gather, take a break, and gain a sense of belonging. sait.ca/campus-centre GREEN BUILDING PARTNERSHIP WITH ALBERTA NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRES In July, the Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (AICEI) distributed funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to four renewable energy generation or energy efficiency projects led by, or benefitting, First Nation and Métis communities in the province. One of those projects is a partnership between SAIT’s Green Building Technologies research division and the Alberta Native Friendship Centre Association (ANFCA), which received $255,000 to upgrade ANFCA Friendship Centres in Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat and St. Paul with energy-efficient building systems that reduce emissions and operating costs. BY THE NUMBERS: DONORS DRIVING STUDENT SUCCESS IN 2024 1,199 donors gave a combined $42,321,405 Includes a transformational $30 million gift from the Taylor Family Foundation 420 new donors 425 donors were SAIT alumni $3.8M in donor-funded Student Awards helped 2,205 students 4,442 Student Awards were dispersed, including government-funded awards Learn more at sait.ca/donorimpact HECTOR FLORES PHOTOS 6 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK NEW AND NOTEWORTHYLETTING EVERY MIND SHINE Great minds don’t necessarily think alike. We all process information, learn new ideas and make decisions in our own unique ways. Recently, SAIT has seen an increase in students identifying as neurodivergent, a concept recognizing that conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are variations in information processing and learning. This fall — with support from donors including the SAIT Opportunities Fund — Neurodiversity Specialist Dani Taylor has joined SAIT’s Lamb Learner Support Centre. In addition to developing and implementing student supports, Taylor will provide instructors with tools and training to work with neurodivergent students and ensure SAIT spaces are welcoming to all minds. “Neurodivergent students bring unique perspectives and approaches that enrich the SAIT community,” Taylor says. “Supporting these students not only benefits them individually, but also enhances the learning environment for everyone.” — Zachary Robertson HOME CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH HUB The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) has announced a three-year, $996,000 investment in SAIT’s Alternative Construction Technologies (ACT) Hub. It will support local construction and manufacturing enterprises in researching and testing new technologies and processes — such as robotics and automation in prefabricated and modular home construction, 3D printing of structures, and upcycling — while also letting students work with cutting-edge equipment, develop technical skills and collaborate with industry. Part of the Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM) with SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS), the ACT Hub also receives key funding from PrairiesCan, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Alberta Innovates. TOP 3 CAMPUS PHOTO SPOTS According to a June @SAITAlumni Instagram poll: Heritage Hall 67% Downtown skyline 23% Parkade atrium 10% SPRING CONVOCATION BREAKS RECORDS A total of 2,408 SAIT graduates crossed the stage during an unprecedented five Convocation ceremonies at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in June, with more than 3,025 people joining the alumni family in the Spring 2024 cohort. INDIGENOUS GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS The Spring SAIT Indigenous Graduation Ceremony was held on June 14, celebrating tradition, resilience and academic achievement. It acknowledged the rich history of the land and the importance of Indigenous customs. BRIAN BUCHSDRUECKER PHOTO 7 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK CHECK OUT LINK’S DIGITAL EDITION • Better navigation • Updated design • Engaging content sait.ca/link @SAITALUMNINext >