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< Previous01 KNOW YOUR CANCELLATION POLICIES Always ask your travel agent about cancellation policies for flights, hotels and car rentals. If airlines make schedule changes and there’s a flight delay of three hours or more, or if your flight is cancelled, the airline will provide a refund or arrange alternate flights with no change fees. Understanding cancellation policies can be crucial during events like this year’s unprecedented wildfires worldwide and, as environmental challenges evolve, these policies are becoming a significant component of responsible journeying. Mercredi says airlines like Air Canada will notify travel agents when they’re waiving change or cancellation fees due to fire evacuations affecting particular destinations. LINK CHECKED IN WITH STEPHANIE MERCREDI, AN INSTRUCTOR WITH THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, FOR HER INSIGHTS INTO TRAVEL TODAY. NAMED ONE OF CANADA’S TOP TRAVEL AGENTS BY CANADIAN TRAVEL PRESS IN 2020, SHE’S ALSO CO-CREATOR OF DESTINATIONS TRAVEL BY SAIT — NORTH AMERICA’S ONLY STUDENT-RUN TRAVEL CENTRE. USING CUTTING- EDGE INDUSTRY SOFTWARE, IT OFFERS FLIGHT AND HOTEL BOOKINGS FOR THE SAIT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALUMNI. Here are Mercredi’s top four travel tips — plus two bonus tips from LINK: Follow Destinations on Instagram @destinationsbysait or call 403.284.8455 for hours during each academic term. And SAIT alumni now receive preferred rates on travel insurance from TD Insurance Meloche Monnex (learn more at sait.ca/alumni/alumni-perks). ARE DIPPING TEMPERATURES SENDING YOU SEARCHING FOR A WARMER WEATHER DESTINATION? BEFORE YOU CLICK “BOOK,” IT HELPS TO KNOW WHAT FACTORS COULD MAKE YOUR NEXT VACATION A BREEZE OR A NIGHTMARE. TEXT BY RACHEL HENRY | ILLUSTRATION BY DANIELLE ERICKSON 8 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK PRO TIPS: TRAVEL POINTERS AND TRIP TRENDS03 DON’T RELY JUST ON AI Travel planning is one more way artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our lives — but Mercredi advises against relying solely on AI travel platforms. “AI can be useful for initial research or planning, but it lacks the adaptability and creativity of experienced travel agents,” she says. “It may not consider important factors like in-destination costs, or it might offer information based on online hotel reviews. Speaking to a real person can provide better assistance and customization.” However, for organization on the go, Mercredi recommends apps like TripIt. The app allows users to upload booked flights, hotel confirmations and concert tickets into a comprehensive itinerary accessible from their smartphone. 04 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Check Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations (rrpa-appr.ca) covering compensation for cancellations, lost luggage and other problems with flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights. For example, airlines must notify you of flight delays, but compensation can be complex. You could be eligible for assistance including food, accommodations, rebooking or a refund — it all depends on how much control the airline had over the delay, how late you arrive at your destination, and the size of the airline. “Understanding current regulations can help you better navigate disruptions and receive the compensation you’re entitled to,” Mercredi says. “Don’t just accept the airline’s offer of $100 and a rescheduled flight.” 02 WATCH TRAVEL TRENDS Overcrowding, changing conditions, new experiences — knowing the trends helps you plan better and travel mindfully. For example, hotspots like Amsterdam and Venice are closing their cruise ports to manage overtourism, so look for less-populated cities to visit. Extreme heat is impacting countless tourist havens, and Mercredi predicts travellers may opt for shoulder season getaways. To improve your chances of avoiding scorching heat waves, book travel time when it’s spring or fall in your destination. One new travel trend is dark tourism — visiting sites associated with tragedy or disaster. Mercredi stresses the need for respect. “These experiences should be valued as educational, not for entertainment,” she says. 9 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK If a single trait connects all of SAIT’s 2023 Alumni Awards recipients, it’s their ability to make the most of an opportunity. They’re turning tragedy into community, using AI to help protect the planet, and building spaces that bring people together. This year, two new awards — the International Impact Alumni Award and the Clarence Hollingworth Alumni Employee Award of Excellence — are being presented to two SAIT graduates seizing opportunities to make a difference from across the Atlantic and right here on campus. Opportunity Makers TEXT BY MICHELLE WOODARD OLEKSANDR KOZACHENKO PHOTO 10 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK FEATURE: 2023 ALUMNI AWARDSJ anice Krissa-Moore grew up in Canada during the 1980s learning the Ukrainian language, performing traditional dances and decorating pysanka (Ukrainian Easter eggs) — things those living in Ukraine under Soviet rule weren’t able to do. “I felt like it was our duty to keep Ukrainian culture alive,” she says. Even after Ukraine gained independence in 1991, Krissa-Moore made sure her children attended Ukrainian school. On a dance tour with her daughter in 2018, she saw the country in person for the first time and immediately fell in love. She returned a couple of months later to research and soon became associate producer of They Who Surround Us , a film about Ukrainians fleeing to Canada after the Second World War. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, she says, felt like reliving history. Once again, duty called. Drawing on her long career of fundraising and leadership within post-secondary institutions and community organizations, Krissa-Moore began collecting donations for displaced Ukrainians — everything from flights to housewares. A call to help an exhausted newcomer, arriving in Edmonton after a frightening escape with her two children and only a single pair of underwear, netted 400 fresh pairs. As donations poured in, Krissa- Moore accepted a friend’s offer of temporary commercial space in downtown Edmonton to house, manage and distribute it all — but donors, Ukrainians in need and volunteers just kept coming. So Krissa-Moore did what she’s known for. She took the lead, co- founding the Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers with her daughter Jorgia. The project, which began as a crisis response distributing more than $100,000 of emergency essentials between hundreds of families each week, quickly transformed into a community. Recently arrived Ukrainian nationals became volunteers, helping to pay forward the comfort they had received from the Free Store. Ukrainian artists volunteered their skills, bringing the space to life with murals using donated paint. Volunteer cooks proposed selling handmade food, with the proceeds paying for ingredients and wages for the Ukrainian newcomers cooking the food. And like a thread that winds through Krissa-Moore's career, her efforts ultimately turned into an education. “This experience has taught me about love, hurt, strength, resilience and unity,” she says. Busier now than ever, Krissa-Moore says she has no plans to stop. “We're in this until the war's over.” When that day arrives, the Free Store will shift to help newcomers from all countries and Krissa-Moore will return to the country she loves. “I want to go back to help the people of Ukraine recover, and to share stories that show their incredible spirit and strength.” JANICE KRISSA-MOORE 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Business Administration ’98, School of Business Co-Founder, Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers Senior Vice President, Fund Development, Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta and NWT 11 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK F or as long as he can remember, Tejeshwar (Tej) Grewal has begun each day with a Sikh prayer from the Guru Granth Sahib: Pavan guroo paanee pitaa. Maataa Dharat mahat. Translated to English, it means, “Air is the Guru. Water is the Father. Earth is the great Mother of all.” Speaking those same words aloud every morning, Grewal says, instills in him a passion for protecting the planet. Just like the prayer, Grewal’s innovation started with a focus on the air. In 2016, while taking an environmental class at SAIT as an international student from India, he learned about the many orphaned wells that bankrupt oil and gas companies were unable to shut off or adequately maintain. “I thought the least we could do was monitor these wells for leaks and identify the highest priorities for remediation,” he says. So Grewal set out to design a rudimentary, low-cost, continuous remote monitoring device that uses environmental sensors combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and measure hazardous greenhouse gas leaks. He first pitched his idea to potential investors at a SAIT industry night and, not long after graduating, became co-founder of a cleantech startup called Qube Technologies. The company has grown into a market leader for emissions detection technology, enhancing and adapting Grewal's original design to work in a range of rugged and remote industrial settings. Today, more than 2,000 Qube industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices are installed at sites worldwide to detect, measure and report levels of carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other emissions. While protecting the environment has always been Grewal's first concern, he says early detection of leaks also makes good business sense. “When oil and gas companies are alerted as soon as a leak occurs, they can make repairs more quickly and efficiently,” he explains. “It means those companies are able to sell millions of dollars of product rather than losing it in the air and causing a negative impact on the environment.” Finding solutions that provide for a sustainable future without disrupting economies is something Grewal sees himself continuing — potentially in ways that address pollution of the two remaining elements in his morning prayer: water and the Earth. Grewal’s achievements have led him to being named to Forbes magazine’s 2023 Top 30 Under 30 — Energy list, and as a 2023 SAIT Outstanding Young Alumnus. “I feel very lucky to be recognized, especially as an immigrant,” he says. “I'm so thankful for the many mentors I've had at SAIT and the many people who have been part of this. It feels like a dream come true.” "I feel very lucky to be recognized [as an Outstanding Young Alumnus], especially as an immigrant. I'm so thankful for the many mentors I've had at SAIT and the many people who have been part of this. It feels like a dream come true." TEJESHWAR (TEJ) GREWAL 2023 OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Bachelor of Applied Technology Petroleum Engineering ’18, MacPhail School of Energy Vice President of Innovation, Qube Technologies KOKEMOR STUDIO 12 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK FEATURE: 2023 ALUMNI AWARDSI n two short years, Danielle Murrison has guided a national brand through its first in-house major renovation, opened a new restaurant concept in Calgary and launched a brewery in Victoria Harbour. First as a project manager and now as Director of Construction, Murrison brings her DANIELLE MURRISON 2023 OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Architectural Technologies ’17, School of Construction Director of Construction, CRAFT Beer Market creativity, innovation, construction expertise and problem-solving skills to every project — from concept and permitting to working with design teams and managing the entire build. “We have 10 properties in seven cities across the country, so no two days are the same, no two projects are the same and no two builds are the same,” she says. Earlier this year, Murrison put every one of her skills to the test. In just four weeks, her team renovated a 12,000-square-foot heritage building in Vancouver, revamping CRAFT’s False Creek location in the iconic Salt Building in the heart of Olympic Village. In addition to CRAFT’s trademark nod to each property’s former tenant (a namesake canoe in Victoria; massive historical art from the 1930s in the Vancouver sea salt refinery), their latest initiative incorporates local art and photography into each of the company’s locations. “CRAFT is built for communities, and our restaurants are meant to invite people in so they can socialize and celebrate together,” says Murrison. “Supporting local is one of the ways we can reflect our community — one of our core values — while bringing spaces to life.” She also knows a successful opening or reopening isn’t just about the build itself. And while she says she enjoys and appreciates every part of the project life cycle, it’s people who bring projects to life — the hundreds of tradespeople, designers and consultants she works with on every project, as well as the entire team at CRAFT. Murrison’s focus on tradespeople extends to helping other women working in male-dominated industries like construction. She served on SAIT's Women in Trades & Technology (WITT) Board in 2020–2021, showing her dedication to making a positive impact in the community. In fact, she’s making an impact in multiple communities, with several projects — some new builds and some renovations — currently on the go across Canada. “I’m really in the thick of it right now — it’s exciting,” she says. “I remember the excitement that came with the chapter of my life when I moved to Calgary and studied at SAIT. This award is a highlight of this next chapter.” KOKEMOR STUDIO 13 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK ROGER HADDAD 2023 INTERNATIONAL IMPACT ALUMNI AWARD Automotive Service Technician ’07, School of Transportation Test Engineer, Red Bull Powertrains S ince rebuilding his first car in high school armed only with a Haynes Repair Manual and unbridled enthusiasm, Roger Haddad’s passion for the combustion engine hasn’t waned. Today his role with Red Bull Racing’s Research and Development team takes the precision required — and the stakes involved — to the next level. For the past year and a half, he’s been working at top speed to prepare for a major shift in power unit regulations for Formula 1 racing, a sport viewed by 1.54 billion people worldwide. Starting in 2026, every F1 engine must run on a hybrid electric motor and an internal combustion engine powered by fully sustainable fuels. “Everything has to be perfect,” Haddad says. “Gaining an extra hundredth of a second of performance means thousands of parts have to work together in unison. It takes exact timing and tolerances to produce an incredible amount of power from only droplets of fuel.” Pushing engines to their limit means endless testing. That’s where Haddad shines. Drawing on his experience as a licensed mechanic and advanced motorsports engineer, he is part of a small team that designs and creates equipment to meticulously test any component that moves, rotates, pumps or spins in every single Red Bull engine. He says his apprenticeship training is an important part of his toolkit and that he still likes getting his hands dirty. “I get to use all the skills I’ve learned over the years, doing my part and making a contribution,” he says. Because, Haddad explains, building a race-winning engine isn’t something you do alone. He loves being part of a team that is passionate, working toward the same goal and willing to go the extra mile. “Going up against companies that have been building engines for decades is both nerve- wracking and exciting. I’m living a lot of people’s dreams right now — including my own.” Haddad says receiving SAIT’s first International Impact Alumni Award is humbling. “There are amazing people doing incredible things in different fields around the world. It’s such an honour to have been nominated for this award, let alone being selected to receive it.” RED BULL RACING / VIA GETTY IMAGES 14 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK FEATURE: 2023 ALUMNI AWARDST wenty years ago, Cindy Humphries was a student in SAIT’s first Medical Radiologic Technology (MRT) class — and today she works with SAIT’s School of Health and Public Safety. After graduating and passing the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists certification exam, Humphries became SAIT’s MRT educational laboratory technologist. But her work doesn’t end when students go home at the end of the day. For 18 years, she has also dedicated her nights to providing insight into the inner structures of the human body at Calgary’s Rockyview General Hospital. “You would think, after thousands upon thousands of X-rays, it would get boring,” Humphries says. “But, to borrow from Forrest Gump, patients are like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get.” MRT depends on correctly placing both patient and X-ray equipment to capture the images doctors need. Every circumstance is different, which can make manoeuvring people into the positions required both an art and a science. “When you get the perfect image, it feels like you’re really making a difference,” she says. Humphries also makes a difference for students following in her footsteps. As an ed tech, she supports student learning, takes care of the program’s equipment, sets up simulations and co-chairs the safety committee. She’s also a longtime volunteer at SAIT’s Open House. “I’m excited about my profession and love sharing it — I’ve even swayed prospective students away from other programs,” she says with a mischievous grin. “But this career isn’t all unicorns and sunshine. I’m honest about its demands as well as its rewards.” Humphries jokingly credits her bouncy, positive attitude to chronic sleep deprivation. But her colleagues, who nominated her as the second recipient of the Hollingworth alumni employee award, know better. “It’s really special to receive an award named after a member of the SAIT community who had such a bright disposition and positive energy,” she says. “I’m honoured that people see value in what I do and who I am.” NEW THIS YEAR: INTERNATIONAL IMPACT ALUMNI AWARD Established in 2023, the International Impact Alumni Award recognizes a SAIT graduate who is making a positive impact on SAIT’s reputation as a global education leader, exhibits exceptional achievements internationally, and demonstrates outstanding contributions in bringing positive global perspectives to SAIT and its surrounding community. CLARENCE HOLLINGWORTH ALUMNI EMPLOYEE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Established in 2019 and re-named earlier this year in honour of SAIT alumnus and longtime instructor Clarence Hollingworth (1915–2023), this award recognizes a graduate who is a SAIT staff or faculty member at the time of nomination; makes a demonstrative and positive impact in the SAIT community through their work; exemplifies a high level of excellence, professionalism and personal commitment to SAIT’s mission and core values; and embodies a spirit of alumni enthusiasm and pride in their work at SAIT. CINDY HUMPHRIES 2023 CLARENCE HOLLINGWORTH ALUMNI EMPLOYEE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Medical Radiologic Technology ’05, School of Health and Public Safety Educational Laboratory Technologist, Medical Radiologic Technology program, SAIT DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Established in 1988, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes a SAIT alumnus/alumna who demonstrates proven leadership skills, exceptional achievements in business or industry, outstanding contributions to the community and a history of support for SAIT. OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Established in 2009, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus/alumna who has graduated from SAIT in the past 10 years and is 35 years or younger, has proven leadership skills, exhibits exceptional achievements in their field of endeavour and demonstrates outstanding contributions to the community. PHOTO: THE COMPANY INC. 15 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM DEMONSTRATION THEATRE SECOND FLOOR, JOHN WARE BUILDING 01 02 16 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK HANDS ONHARDERLEE PHOTOGRAPHY OPENED IN APRIL 2022, THIS DRAMATIC SPACE IS PACKED WITH HIGH-PERFORMANCE PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT — AND IT’S VERSATILE ENOUGH TO ENTICE STUDENT CHEFS AND BAKERS, BUDDING MIXOLOGISTS AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS. “This kitchen has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a commercial kitchen, but in addition to giving students hands-on experience, we’ve set it up as a tool for instructors to share demonstrations in person, through podcasts or live streaming,” says chef and culinary instructor, Glenn Monk, who helped design the space using AutoCAD design software. For chefs, the star of the kitchen is the Rational iCombi Classic 10 cooking cabinet; for pastry chefs it’s the MIWE condo baking station. Centre stage is the Garland Master Series heavy-duty range with convection oven. And for students in the new Hospitality and Tourism Management — Beverage Management program, bartending service wells are built into each end of a central island. Overhead are two cameras connected to a pair of 50-inch monitors facing the classroom, as well as massive wall-sized screens. “You can pretty much cook anything in this kitchen, and the cameras let students see it all,” Monk says. “From prepping to cooking to plating, the cameras can track every step.” The MIWE condo cabinet features two types of baking chambers: a large rack oven for pastries and baking ovens below for breads. With state-of-the-art touchscreen controls and the ability to hearth-bake bread and delicate pastries simultaneously, this configuration cost $40,000. Stainless steel with a heavy-duty porcelain enamel oven interior, the Garland range has six open star burners to handle multiple recipes all at once. Capable of operating with dry heat (convection) and moist heat (steam), the Rational iCombi cabinet lets students braise or steam dishes, sear or slow-roast meats — even practice sous vide techniques. When its steam and convection functions are combined, the oven has a range of 86° F to 572° F. 01 02 03 03 17 THE MAGAZINE FOR SAIT ALUMNI SAIT.CA/LINK Next >