by Christine Gross, alumni relations manager

We all take leaps of faith everyday – some small, and some large. Expecting to cross the street and not get hit by a bus is one small leap of faith, although given that I’m writing my column from Calgary it’s much more likely I’ll be dodging the C-Train.

I’m in Calgary for a Calgary Alumni Branch event this evening that demonstrates the wonderful things that follow leaps of faith, both small and large.

The decision to go to school can be a giant leap of faith. For RRU students, it can mean leaving behind friends, family and a full-time job to immerse themselves completely in their studies for weeks at a time. There can be financial concerns, professional worries and all the while, perhaps a small nagging inner voice wondering if it’s really possible to make it to graduation.

This evening, the Calgary Alumni Branch will celebrate the Wild Rose Alumni Impact Award – an entrance award created by the Alumni Branch, and the first initiated by RRU alumni since the university’s inception.

As alumni, we know how rewarding it is to take that leap, regardless of the hardships and challenges along the way. Thank to the Calgary Alumni Branch, this award will offer a comfortable safety net for one deserving applicant from Alberta.

Providing I remember to look both ways while crossing the train tracks this afternoon, I’ll have the great privilege of addressing the crowd this evening prior to the guest speaker – Frank O’Dea.

Mr. O’Dea will be sharing his inspiring story and the leaps of faith that took him from living on the street, and against all odds, becoming one of Canada's most successful and celebrated entrepreneurs, founding numerous businesses, including The Second Cup.

He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and Chair of the RRU Foundation Board. For all of these reasons, I feel much less apprehensive about my public speaking duties this evening. My palms may get sweaty, my PowerPoint presentation can freeze and I may even pass out cold, but Mr. O’Dea’s story is so amazing, he will make up for my nervous shortcomings. 

Even though public speaking is outside of my comfort zone, it is much better to have to precede Frank O’Dea than to follow him.

ALUMNI UPDATES

What are you creating today? Have you tapped into your personal and professional stream of well-being? Do you have something to share, to tell, to offer? This is your invitation to contribute to an ongoing dialogue about the business of life. Visit the StoryNet - a space that expands our collective experience as RRU Alumni.

After five-and-a-half months of hard labour, Phillip LeBlanc (BAAC Graduate) and his team at GB Lao Media put together SpotLight Asia magazine and presented it to Lao Airlines. They were, in a word, wowed and agreed on a contract! SpotLight Asia is now "The Official In-Flight Magazine" for Lao Airlines. LeBlanc says he is grateful for the superior instruction he received at Royal Roads. “Clearly, the teachings of those learned folks gave me the ability to write, and moreover, the confidence that I could write something worth reading.”  The first edition SpotLight Asia will be onboard every Lao Airlines aircraft, in every seat pocket.

Daniel Gawthorp (2007 MAPC-IIC) was at the Asian Information and Media Centre  conference in India to present his paper “Circumventing the junta: How Burmese exiles use independent media to foster civic culture and promote democracy”.

Beth Mulloy (MAPC-IIC Graduate) had her submission - “The Place We Call Home” - accepted for presentation at the 2009 Canadian Communication Association held in Ottawa in May.

Chantal Schauch (2007 MAPC) has had her thesis, "Authentic Identity: The Essence of How Successful Ecopreneurs Communicate", accepted for publication in the next issue of the Journal of Values-Based Leadership.

Congratulations to Brian Pike (2006 MAPC) on his acceptance of a prestigious six-month internship with The Hague, working for the Office of the Head of Public Information of the Registry of the International Criminal Court. Brian left for The Hague in September.


As an RRU alumnus or ex-cadet, you are an important member of the Royal Roads community; a community comprised of alumni, learners, faculty, staff, and volunteers. Your fond memories, friendships, experiences, and academic accomplishments are valued elements of the university’s history - and an essential part of its future. Please keep us up-to-date. Send your news to rru-alumni-relations@royalroads.ca.