by Christine Gross, alumni relations manager

The Royal Roads campus in the spring time can be counted on to produce increasingly louder peacocks, beautiful gardens, and pasty RRU staff emerging from their offices for the first time since December. Minus the peacocks – it’s a great time of year.

Spring brings increasingly louder peacocks . . . but with construction of the Learning and Innovation Centre underway, there may actually be noise loud enough on campus to compete with the birds.

The entire campus is looking forward to what the warmer weather will bring. Convocation is just around the corner and construction is about to begin on the first new building in the university’s history – the Learning and Innovation Centre. For once, there may actually be noise loud enough to compete with the birds.

Summer is also a time for planning and preparation. This fall Royal Roads will welcome alumni back to campus for the annual Homecoming – Your Alumni Weekend. This year Homecoming will take place September 11-13, and we’re very excited about the weekend we have in store.

While we’re still working out some details, I can promise the opportunity for a day on the water with the Canadian Armed Forces, professional development that may change how you view the world, and at least one great party in Hatley Castle.

Save the date for Homecoming this September and we’d love to see you back with us at Royal Roads. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please let me know.

If I don’t answer my phone, you know where to find me. I’ll be sunning myself outside, listening to the soothing sounds of mating peacocks and heavy-duty construction equipment.

There’s no better place to be.

ALUMNI UPDATES

Congratulations to Michelle Mungall who was elected MLA for the Nelson-Creston riding. Michelle recently completed all requirements for graduation from the Human Security and Peacebuilding program. Her major research project focused on ending rural homelessness by building peace and human security. Read Michelle’s success story.

Scott Kress graduated from RRU with a Master of Arts in Leadership and Training in Spring 2007 and last year climbed Mount Everest - becoming the 51st Canadian to do so. He now runs two training businesses and is an Executive MBA Professor for the University of Windsor. Learn more about Summit Training and Frontier Team Building.

Nina Ng completed her MBA in 2007 and, shortly after, started working for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). She is on the Workforce Communications team and has the exciting task of keeping the workforce of 55,000 engaged in the Games.

DO YOU BLOG?

If you would like to have your blog featured and available on AlumNet, the online social networking site exclusive to RRU alumni, please send me a message with your URL, and a two-three line description of what your blog is about. Your blog can be funny, serious, personal or professional – we’re interested in what you have to say, and so are your fellow alumni.

If you have a blog you’d like to share, please email me.
 
ARE YOU STRESSED?

Please help us with our research on Workplace Stress for Public Sector Managers!

We are seeking Public Sector Managers to participate in a study on Workplace Stress. The study involves an email survey and an interview by phone or f2f. Benefits to you include revealing workplace stress and coping strategies.

This study is part of an MA thesis by Jennifer Kruidbos. If you can participate, contact Jennifer Kruidbos by email or contact her supervisor Jennifer Walinga.

THE BUSINESS OF LIFE

Royal Roads alumni have amazing stories. Those first few days learners experience on campus are really just a prologue to the remarkable chapters to follow and I’m delighted to introduce a new way for alumni to celebrate and learn from one another with the help of fellow RRU graduate, Magdalen Bowyer (MAAC 04). StoryNet - available to registered users of AlumNet - is a wonderful new space for alumni to truly live our learning and find our real purpose in business and in life. Read the full story then register or log-in to AlumNet.