By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Founder’s day weekend to kick off U of L 50th anniversary with a bang

Jan 12, 2017 | 12:17 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The University of Lethbridge is now officially 50-years old, and it’s time to celebrate!
 
The year-long festivities have been in the works for the past year. Founder’s Day Weekend kicks everything off this weekend (Jan. 13-14) with a number of activities for students, alumni and the public to enjoy. It’s being used to recognize the contributions of “the many forward-thinking individuals” that made the university possible.
 
As part of the weekend, it was announced that a Shine On: U of L 50th Anniversary fund will be started in support of student scholarships. That will be accompanied by a text-to-give, 50 Hours of Giving campaign also starting Friday (Jan. 13) at noon. Simply text SHINEON with your full name and e-mail to 45678 to donate $25 to the fund. Other amounts can be submitted online.
 
Final details of the 50 Voices oral history project will also be shared. The initiative was undertaken by the Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT) to tell the university’s story from 50 diverse voices, from students and alumni to administrators.
 
“The two best features of oral history are highlighted in this project,” noted Dr. Heidi MacDonald, who’s one of five project committee members. “First, oral history allows us to interview people from a variety of walks of life and I think we’ve come through. Second, the richness of oral history allows the participants to interpret the event as they saw it.”
 
All of the full interviews will be added to the U of L archive, and be available online through the library.
 
The university’s new tartan and a specialty beer label are set to be premiered during the weekend of fun, as well as a special 50th anniversary song written by John Wort Hannam (BA/BEd ’96).
 
For tickets and a full schedule, visit the University of Lethbridge website.
 
The City of Lethbridge is even jumping on board! Council agreed in early-September to light city hall up in blue and gold over the same weekend, and participate in activities throughout 2017.
 
“Fifty years ago, our University began as a vision held within the hearts of many southern Albertans. Fifty years later, I’d say that vision has materialized. Today, the U of L is widely recognized as one of Canada’s top-ranked universities and a leading research institution,” noted Dr. Mike Mahon, U of L president.
 
The university was founded in 1967, and now welcomes more than 8400 students at campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton.