Dance Montage Celebrates Anniversary People in the dance community and those who just enjoy being spectators have looked forward to an annual event since 1968. Dance Montage is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. It began as a way to showcase the work of the physical education students. But the eclectic dance event has flourished over the years and now several hundred dancers from all U of C faculties and the Calgary community, along with several dozen choreographers, audition each year hoping to participate. This year's 35th anniversary show is on now (from November 25 to 27).

Record Set for Research Funding
Funding for research to the University of Calgary increased by 43 percent over the last year, setting a record high with $247 million. "Research funding is a reflection of the high quality of work underway at the U of C. It provides new space, equipment, and educational opportunities so our professors and students can expand their initiatives on the frontiers of knowledge-creating," says Vice-President (Research and International) Dennis Salahub. External organizations provided funding for more than 4,600 research projects. One of the largest projects is the Health Research Innovation Centre, which will integrate lab space, patient clinics, and teaching areas.

Learn more...

Breast Cancer Research Gets a Lift
Electrical engineers at the U of C are trying to develop a diagnostic tool for breast cancer detection, and they are now one step closer thanks to the donation of specialized equipment by Nortel. The equipment is helping further research into the electromagnetic properties of healthy and cancerous breast tissue, and they hope to develop an inexpensive tool that might produce more accurate results than mammograms.

Learn more...

For more U of C news, pick up a copy of OnCampus or read it online at http://www.ucalgary.ca/news

Arch Award Recipients Connect with the Community Approximately 200 people came out on November 12 to honour two of U of C's finest graduates through the Arch Awards celebration. The night included a visual presentation by NASA mission planner and flight controller Laura Lucier and a performance of Kelly-Marie Murphy's composition "Four Degrees of Freedom" by the Land's End Chamber Ensemble. For more on the event, click here. Earlier, each award recipient connected with the Calgary community in unique ways. Kelly-Marie Murphy joined a group of young music students from Our Lady of Assumption School at the Cantos Music Foundation. She had composed three-quarters of a short piece of music, and the students helped her create the last quarter while testing out a variety of the foundation's instruments. And Laura Lucier spoke to 70 children at the Aerospace Museum, giving them a first-hand account on what it's like to be at NASA's mission control.

Gaging Interest in Alumni Career Fair
The alumni office is looking to partner with Career Services to host a job fair for alumni out of university for five to seven years. Peggy Valentine of Career Services says, "With the baby boomers retiring, many Calgary companies are looking to hire new staff. But they are looking for employees who already have five to seven years experience in the workforce." Producing this new career fair would depend on interest from alumni — if you'd be interested in attending such an event, e-mail alumni@ucalgary.ca.

Celebrate the University’s Scottish Connection on Robbie Burns Day
The University of Calgary Pipe Band will be hosting its Sixth Annual Robbie Burns Celebration this January 29, 2005, sponsored by your Alumni Association. Alumnus Fraser Abbott heads up the pipe band, which will play at the event. There will also be a performance by Scottish Highland dancers, a DJ, and door prizes. The doors to the Red & White Club open at 6:00 pm, and the traditional Burns dinner will begin at 7:00. Tickets are $35. For more information, e-mail pipeband@ucalgary.ca. For those wanting to "kit up" for the event, the Highland Gift Shoppe will be offering a discount of $50 to $75 to U of C alumni. Call 286-1932 for more information.

International Centre Puts Out Call for Nominations
The International Centre is looking for nominations for its President's Internationalization Achievement Awards. There are six categories: student, alumni, staff, faculty, community member, and academic program. Nominate someone you know who has made a significant impact on the internationalization of a department, faculty, or the university as a whole.

Learn more...

For more alumni news: http://www.alumni.ucalgary.ca/

Suzette Mayr Reads from Her Latest Offering
On Monday, alumna and faculty member in the Department of English Suzette Mayr will read from her latest book, Venous Hum, at Pages in Kensington starting at 7:30 pm. Mayr was also a Markin-Flanagan writer-in-residence.

Jazz Music and Big Rock
The Big Rock Lecture Series continues with The Hidden Laws of Jazz by alumnus John Reid of the Canadian Music Centre on Wednesday, December 1. $30 includes dinner at 7:00 pm with talk and questions following at 8:15. Phone 720-3239 for tickets or more information. Big Rock Grill, 5555 76 Ave. SE. (Glenmore Tr & 52 St SE).

MBA Alumni Calgary Luncheon
The next MBA Alumni Networking Luncheon will be held on Friday, December 10 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Blackfoot Inn, Calgary. The guest speaker will be Nick Simpson from Lanagan Lifestyles. His keynote is entitled "Introduction to Lifestyle Planning". The cost of the luncheon is $25. Register by Tuesday, December 7 by e-mailing rsvp@haskayne.ucalgary.ca or call Cynthia Kong at (403) 220-5688

U of C President Headed to Edmonton
President Harvey Weingarten will be meeting with a small group of alumni in Edmonton on February 8 to discuss the university's progress, their needs, and how to work together. If you are interested in participating please contact Shauna Coffyne at (403) 220-7108.

For more events, go to http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/