Latest news with #UniversityofLethbridge
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
School safety patrollers rewarded with science-themed activities at University of Lethbridge
Safety patrollers from across southern Alberta were treated to a science-filled exploration day at the University of Lethbridge for all their hard work.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Rifts in families': Parents seek better talk on vaccines as measles outbreak grows
As the measles outbreak grows in Alberta, some parents are feeling the strain. They're trying to keep kids safe and navigate touchy vaccine conversations with friends and family, whether they're pro-vaccines or not. Jillian Carter lives in Lethbridge, where the vaccination rate for kids who were seven last year range from 47 per cent in the surrounding county to 80 per cent within the city. Her first child is an eight-week-old infant who is too young to be vaccinated. So Carter leaves her at home when she shops for groceries, goes out less, covers her daughter's bucket seat when she enters a building, and generally avoids meeting new people socially. "It does make it hard to branch out into like other communities, knowing that your child's safety is at risk when you don't know where other people are standing [on vaccines]," she said. "You find your people and you know your people. But it's also something that does make you a little bit scared leaving the house with a newborn." Measles was once eradicated in Canada, but it came back after vaccination rates fell. In Alberta, the outbreaks started in March and have since grown to 505 cases. The highly contagious disease causes a fever and cough, then a rash. This can normally be managed at home, but in some cases, it brings serious complications such as ear infections, pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to lasting brain damage. As of this week, Alberta had one child with measles in intensive care. CBC News stopped by a popular playground at Henderson Lake in Lethbridge recently to talk with parents about how this is affecting them and their families. Moms just 'don't talk about it' Carter's friend Mackenzie Sailer said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations around vaccines have become fraught. "We just don't really talk about it," said Sailer. "It's like the three things you don't bring up at the dinner table, right. [Religion, politics], you can add vaccinations to the list." Sailer's children are three and one years old. For her, vaccines are not black and white. She got both children their standard childhood immunizations, including measles, but not the COVID-19 vaccine. Because it's newer than the others, she has less confidence in it. But she also feels the tension around this conversation. "It's hard because we're living in a society where there's judgment, right? But I've always been very open to answering and talking about it and not judging either way." Studies on vaccine hesitancy suggest there are often multiple factors that shape a parent's decision, including pressure from peers within and outside religious communities, concerns around vaccine ingredients and fear of potential side-effects. Shannon Vandenberg, a public health nurse and University of Lethbridge professor, grew up in the Dutch Reformed Christian community in a small town in southern Alberta. She studied vaccine hesitancy while earning her master's degree in 2013. She also has three boys in a local school. They're vaccinated but have classmates who aren't, and she sees the tension. "It can create rifts in families. I see that within my own family," she said. CBC News approached Vandenberg to help bring context after speaking with parents at the playground who don't immunize. At the park, one mother said she didn't vaccinate her children and that no one in her friend and faith circles does because they trust God for protection. But she didn't want to speak about it publicly. Another parent, Caitlin Hepner, was willing to share. She's a mother of four who said she doesn't trust vaccines and also avoids talking about it, especially after getting hateful messages toward her kids on social media. Why one mom became a skeptic "I am all for natural immunity with my kids, and yeah, I just try and ease into the conversation if somebody wants to have it. Otherwise, I just, there's no point arguing," she said, easing into this conversation as well. She talked about the challenges, and then shared her own story when asked. She said her mistrust started before the pandemic. Eight years ago, she got her first child vaccinated when he was one. At the time, his language was advancing well. He was even starting to say words like "backpack." Then, inexplicably, his speech regressed to the point where she could no longer understand him, and the regression started around the time he got the vaccine. When she brought that up with her family doctor and others, she felt they didn't take it seriously. "They definitely dismiss it," she said. "They just tell me, 'well, a lot of kids go at their own pace.'" "I'm with my kids every single day. I know if they're progressing or regressing; it was mother's intuition. But you're fighting doctors — they're 'educated' as they go to school." Vandenberg said Hepner's concern about side-effects or injury is not uncommon among those who hesitate to vaccinate. One challenge is that the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps and rubella) is typically given at age one, right around the time that these kinds of regressions and developmental changes can start to appear naturally, she said. 'Highly studied vaccine' When something happens at the same time, it looks like one caused the other. But it could be a coincidence. Health scientists rely on studies involving a much larger population to know for sure, and she said in many large studies of children all over the world, the correlation between the MMR vaccine and developmental delays, such as autism, has been refuted. "If you Google vaccine injury, you're going to get all kinds of stuff," Vandenberg said. "We know the damage that someone like Jenny McCarthy has done with the MMR vaccine, right? Claiming that it caused autism in her son. That has been refuted countless times in many large studies. But there's still people that hold on to that." The most reliable information comes from analyzing multiple large studies. The Cochrane Library, a worldwide non-profit association of health scientists, published a literature review in 2020 that looked at 87 studies searching for evidence of negative side-effects from the MMR vaccine. It found no association between the MMR vaccine and cognitive delay, which would include speech regression. That review found a very small increased risk of a fever-related seizure after vaccination. But that risk was much lower than the risk for fever-related seizures that comes with getting measles. "This has been a very highly studied vaccine. It's incredibly well studied and I have no doubt about its safety," said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, infection disease specialist with the University of Alberta. Having better conversations For Hepner, she said she isn't against Western medicine. If a woman needs a C-section, it's amazing that a doctor can step in and save a life. But she tends to search for other options before filling a prescription. She would like to feel her insight and participation is valued. "They seem to think that because sometimes it's hard to understand the medical language that we can't figure that out … read a medical study. But we're people who are just as qualified to learn these things," she said. "People are very divided due to medical choices, and I think that's absolutely insane. It's vaccinated versus unvaccinated," she said. "People start to question your lack of integrity or your character or your knowledge, all based on your medical choices." Vandenberg believes better conversations can happen. She says public health nurses can be a good resource, especially when they take the time to listen and build trust with parents over multiple conversations. "I found a really nice time to do this was often at the home visits, when we would go and visit moms after they had babies, in their home. We would always bring up — oh, are you planning to immunize?" "If they said no, [then we'd say], 'OK, tell me a little bit more about that.' Building a relationship helps, right? They feel that they can call and the door is open." Getting time to build trust But do public health nurses have time for that today? "That's the challenge," said Vandenberg. "The workload has increased in public health programs; the need has increased. Have we seen the resources increase as well? I would argue not. So you're right, we don't always have the time." At the playground, Carter and Sailer said they'd like to be able to have better conversations with other parents, too. Carter said she feels strongly that everyone should have the right to decide what to do with their own bodies. But people also need good access to education, she said. Hopefully, people have a family doctor they can trust, and even ask for those studies to read if they want that. As for Sailer, she stressed the idea of being more accepting of other views. "I think people need to have more of an open mind on just all things," she said. "There's so many people that are black and white about it, and you can't be involved with people that don't have the same belief system as you.… In reality, that's not sustainable," she said. "We're all different, and we're all gonna have different opinions, and that's OK. If you have respect for everybody around you, I think the conversations would be a lot easier."
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Gasman cometh
A household name in Canadian comedy will be right here in Lethbridge next week for two very special events. Brent Butt, stand-up comedy icon and the visionary behind Corner Gas, the most successful sitcom in Canadian history, is making his first stop at the Yates Memorial Theatre this Sunday (May 25). He'll be performing alongside his good friend and fellow comedian, Charlie Demers, to raise awareness and funds for students facing food insecurity through the University of Lethbridge Food for Thought initiative. 'I was naively unaware that [food insecurity] was even an issue,' Butt told the Herald. 'Some people are just barely getting by in their education, and as someone who likes to eat, food security should be the last thing anybody has to worry about. It really does seem to me to be the sign of a population in decline when some people don't have food to eat. So, I was keen to participate in the show.' A small number of tickets are still available through the Arena website. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Butt will also be walking the stage at the U of L spring convocation on May 30. The university chose him for an honorary Doctor of Laws in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian culture over the last 35 years. 'Laughter is incredibly important in our lives, and I think we are realizing that more every day. Brent's devotion to his comedic craft, willingness to share with others in the comedy community and unwavering commitment to his rural roots and Canadian culture says a lot about the kind of person he is,' says Terry Whitehead, U of L chancellor. This will be Butt's first honourary degree. He joked that it's tremendously flattering, but he wouldn't be surprised if it were also his last. Butt says stand-up comedy has been his dream since he was 12-years old. Now looking back on his career, there are plenty of significant turning points that lead to where he is today. 'I really look at the first time I stepped on stage in a professional environment, at a club for strangers who had paid money to hear comedy. That was in February of 1988,' Butt recalled. 'Then the first time I performed at Just for Laughs about four years in. That's a milestone for any comedian, especially Canadian comedians at the time because it was our sole outlet to be seen by anybody outside the country. Then the opportunity to do Corner Gas. That was the big one; that was very life changing.' Butt created, wrote and starred in Corner Gas across the span of six seasons from 2004 to 2009. The show averaged 1.2 million viewers per episode and collected a number of awards. He now utilizes his well-earned platform to promote and mentor growing comedians and the comedy community as a whole. Butt will be giving a short speech during the graduation ceremony. He says he plans to use the time to offer a message of inspiration, not only to the new graduates, but their supporters, as well. 'You really should pursue what makes you happy,' he says. 'The notion of pursuing something for security reasons is kind of silly because you can never anticipate security. At least try and chase down something that you're passionate about, that you love doing, because – in a perfect world – you're going to be doing it for the rest of your life. 'Too many teachers, professors, parents, and people like that squash the dreams of other people. Don't be that person. Be there for guidance, be there for encouragement, but don't be a roadblock. You're not doing anybody any favours, despite how it might feel.' Moving forward, Butt says performing stand-up comedy will always be part of his life. He's also releasing his first comedy album this spring, writing a second novel and working on a new television script that he hopes to shop around to networks soon. However, it doesn't appear that his new title of Dr. Butt will be appearing in the credits. 'With the last name that I have, you always have to be careful. It definitely gives proctology vibes. I don't think that will ever be in my introduction.' Butt is joined by writer David Robertson, former U of L Chancellor Charlie Weaselhead, conductor Kirk Muspratt and local advocates Bernadine and Toby Boulet who will also be receiving honorary degrees from the U of L this year.
CTV News
17-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
University of Lethbridge highlights the high-tech to mark National Nursing Week
For National Nursing Week, The University of Lethbridge is showcasing the high-tech equipment its nursing students learn with.
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Kels making inroads with Queer in Alberta podcast
A biracial queer woman is making waves in the podcast realm as she released the third season of the podcast and has officially announced Season 4 is in the works. Kels Valenzuela Delamarter began her podcast journey as a boredom buster during the University of Lethbridge instructors strike back in 2022. She posted videos on TikTok and received many comments from people surprised that she was Albertan. Taken aback, she decided that she wanted to show that there are LGBTQ people all across the province and so she began interviewing people through Zoom. Valenzuela Delamarter says she wanted to create visibility to those who may have felt unseen. 'People think queer people don't exist on the prairies,' she says, 'so that's why I wanted to start interviewing people, because clearly we're here but even in our own community, sometimes you don't see that.' She then posted clips of the interview and they went viral, with many asking to see the full versions. After seeing an article in the Herald about Story Hive calling for submissions for a $20,000 grant and mentorship program, Valenzuela Delamarter decided to apply the night applications were closing. She definitely wasn't expecting to get funded, but she did and her entire life changed. With her funding, she began filming her first podcast series named Queer in Alberta. With the mentorship, Valenzuela Delamarter learned a lot about videography and production, graphic design and also where her strengths are in the various areas needed to produce a podcast. She says recognizing that, just because you can do everything, doesn't mean you should do everything, is critica. Being able to delegate things to other people helps you focus on what you are really passionate about. Thanks to Story Hive, she has not only improved her work tremendously, but it has opened many opportunities such as speaking in front of 600 people in Ottawa. In the last few years, she has interviewed 30-40 people. One reoccurring theme throughout her podcast is the importance of representation. 'Not having the representation to know that, say, queer lives can be meaningful and beautiful, even in a space that maybe other people think is very conservative.' She adds that queer lives deserve to take up space, no matter where they live. When Valenzuela Delamarter moved to Lethbridge for school back in 2014, she remembers feeling very isolated. But in the last five years, she says the city has exploded with acceptance not only for queer people, but for diversity in general. While her podcast is open to anyone, she has spoken with many people of colour and while they may have had different experiences, there were things she could relate to, being queer and racialized. As a Filipino-Canadian, Valenzuela Delamarter says her podcast has helped her feel much more connected to her culture. 'The amount of queer Filipino people I've connected with from this project and all of the work I've done wit it, it's been so affirming and life changing and made me feel much closer to my culture.' She says it's important to recognize queer people of colour, because there are many different histories of queerness in every culture, not just for white people. Through her podcast, Valenzuela Delamarter has been able to reach people who may not have representation, as well as help parents of queer kids understand what their child is experiencing. That has helped her realize the difference she is making. 'Those kinds of comments really reinforce the power of representation and just seeing people come together, because of the interviews, because of the show is overwhelming to say the least.' While she won't deny the struggles of being queer in Alberta, overall Valenzuela Delamarter says her experience has been deeply rooted in support and kindness. An example of that was her launch party for Season 3 of Queer in Alberta, which was held at the Galt Museum on Good Friday. Being the Easter weekend, she wasn't sure what kind of support to expect. She needn't have worried - 120 people showed up, with some of them making the trip from as far as Edmonton and Calgary. A new feature this season is the studio that Valenzuela Delamarter has been able to call her own. In previous seasons she filmed at CASA, andh while she is grateful for the support, it was a trek to lug all of the camera gear and other equipment to and from each session. A new episode of Queer in Alberta premiers every Tuesday on Telus Optik channel 9 and anywhere podcasts can be found. Season 4 is currently in the works and anyone who is interested in being featured can fill out the application on Valenzuela Delamarter's Instagram or by emailing queerinalberta@ .
