Parents today likely won’t be surprised to know their children have far less freedom to travel in their neighbourhoods than they did. But what they might not know is how that could affect their children’s physical activity and mental health.

Most children and adolescents worldwide are not active enough to obtain optimal benefits for health and development. Among the many factors associated with physical activity, children’s independent mobility (CIM), which is their freedom to roam and explore their neighbourhood without adult supervision, is gaining increasing attention. CIM has declined over the past 50 years in many countries at the same time as mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and suicide among children and adolescents increased.

In his previous research, the speaker found that children with greater CIM are more active. More recently, he explored how CIM related to parent-perceived child distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. When CIM was assessed as how far children could travel without adult supervision (home range), he observed that children with the highest home range had 39 per cent lower odds of having elevated distress. This is a notable difference given that just over half of the children met the threshold for elevated distress at the beginning of the study (December 2020).

The results suggest that supporting CIM may be a no-cost, equitable approach to promote physical activity and support child development and mental health. The speaker also investigated the factors associated with CIM at the beginning of the study and these results support the old adage that “it takes a village to raise a child”…

Speaker: Dr. Richard Larouche

Dr. Richard Larouche is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the U of L where he serves as the director of the Physical Activity, Transport & Health (PATH) Research Group. Dr. Larouche is committed to assisting students develop understanding of key concepts and issues in population health, health promotion and research methods. He encourages his students to develop an ethos of evidence-based practice and a desire to engage in knowledge translation activities to bridge the gap between research and practice.

In 2020, Dr. Larouche was nominated as Board of Governors Research Chair in Children’s Physical Activity. His research is focused on physical activity from a population health perspective, with a particular interest in active transportation, independent mobility, and outdoor play. He has published his first book, Children’s Active Transportation, in 2018 and has contributed to the development of the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play – a document which has inspired many to encourage children to be active outdoors. He is currently leading an international study focusing on physical activity among children and adolescents.

The Wilson Hutterite Colony has been in existence in its present location since 1918 when the original settlers arrived from North Dakota. Originally they came from Europe where people in parts of Austria speak a language similar to theirs even now. Today there are 128 people residing on the colony, located south of Coaldale.

The successful farming operation includes livestock and poultry production as well as beautifully crafted goods for colony use sold both locally and even internationally. Some of their products include broiler chickens, fertile eggs and dairy milk. They manufacture custom made western saddles, saddle pads, chaps, gloves, handmade shoes and boots for men as well as furniture, kitchen cabinets, grandfather clocks. From the wool of their Merino sheep they made in-soles.

Our presenters will discuss life on the Colony as well as the farming operation and variety of agricultural-based industries. This presentation will be a panel format and out of respect for our speakers, please do not take photos at this session.

Speaker: Paul Wurz

Paul Wurz has been financial and supervising manager of the Wilson Hutterite Colony for 8 years. He was born in the colony and held the positions of carpenter and shepherd before becoming manager. He and his wife have seven children, six girls and a boy.

logans and populism cliches can become dangerously powerful when not critically examined. Does their persistence, despite lack of merit, speak to their utility for some dominant power? Two examples are: ” There is no such thing as society.” and “The government has no money of its own.”

The speaker will explore these examples on their own lack of merit, while touching more broadly on human responsibility for our world today and tomorrow.

Speaker: James Moore

James Moore has been an instructor in Justice Studies at Lethbridge College, a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant, and a contributing writer to the Manitoba Keewaitinowi Okimakanak . He is a self-motivated philosopher with interest in the possibilities of positive social change.

The argumentative exchange of reasons is often seen as the most equality-affirming, respectful way in which parties can engage with each other’s minds. But for argumentation to fulfill this promise, we often have to invest extra effort.

One of the places where such extra effort may be required is when we try to understand the reasons that the person we are arguing with is trying to communicate to us. This can be difficult, especially when they are not very good speakers, or when we strongly disagree with their worldview. To capture this, we often say that arguing requires us to interpret the other charitably. But what does that mean? And is charity always helpful, or can it even be harmful to the person we are trying to understand? In this talk, we will explore all the ways that charity can go wrong … and what is required for it to go right.

Speaker: Dr. Katharina Stevens

Katharina Stevens has worked in the Ethics of Argument for seven years. She is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lethbridge, where she holds a Board of Governors Research Chair on the Ethics of Argumentation. She is also a co-editor of the Argumentation journal Informal Logic. She is developing a non-ideal role-ethics for argumentation and a textbook on ethical arguing and has published in virtues of argumentation and the role of adversariality in argument.

The speaker, a game warden with 38 years of experience in Alberta, will share stories about his work in protecting the region’s fish and wildlife. He will highlight the delicate balance between humans and nature, the diverse wildlife in Alberta, and the challenges faced by conservation efforts. This presentation will showcase the dedication required to safeguard these natural resources and provide insight into the tireless work of individuals committed to conservation.

Speaker: Jim Mitchell

Jim Mitchell is a retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officer, commonly known around the world as a Game Warden. Jim retired in Lethbridge, 2019 after 38 plus years of dedicated service for the Alberta Government. After retiring, he worked at the Lethbridge College for three years, instructing Conservation Enforcement classes he had taken at the college 40 years prior..

Jim was stationed in 5 different districts throughout the province, finishing his career as the Superintendent for Southern Alberta, in Lethbridge. During Jim’s career he was a Predator Response specialist, Firearms Instructor and a Surveillance Team member for Justice and Solicitor General, along with all his other duties as a district officer. Jim is married to his wife Joyanne, who retired the same date from the Advancement section at Lethbridge College and their daughter Kaitlyn, who is an educator in Calgary.

Jim enjoys travelling, hikes in the mountains, fishing and staying busy on their 3 acres on Glen Lake, near Eureka Montana. After retiring, Jim spent 5 years writing a book, Alberta Game Warden - Behind the Batch of 172 which contains 34 short true stories housed within 8 chapters about his often very exciting and challenging career as an Alberta Game Warden. In his book he talks about his role in Conservation and stories involving all aspects of his career.

Albertans are no strangers to disruptive restructuring of our health care system. Decades of austerity have left us with reduced services, creeping privatization, and worse care conditions. None of this, however, can fully prepare us for the harm that may be caused by the provincial government’s ongoing dismantling of Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Danielle Smith’s government is undertaking a massive restructuring of health care delivery. As the government continues to roll out their plan, it has become increasingly clear that this isn’t actually about improving patient care or local input, but arguably, a systematic overhaul designed to benefit the profits of the government’s private sector friends.

The speaker will argue we do not have to succumb to this ploy. As we begin to better understand what this restructuring will mean for our health care, it’s on us to stop the destruction and push for better. One of the most powerful responses we have is to work together and establish certainty amidst the chaos. We CAN rebuild our public health care system. There are solutions to our challenges if we choose to build the collective power to make them happen.

Speaker: Chris Gallaway

Chris Gallaway (he/him) is an experienced community organizer and advocate for public health care. Born and raised on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, he has since spent most of his adult life living on Treaty 6 territory, first in Saskatoon, and for the last decade living in Edmonton. His past experience includes working for the Alberta Federation of Labour, in three provincial legislative assemblies, and for a variety of non-profit and community organizations. Outside of work Chris is an active volunteer and community member engaged in social justice and the arts.

YWCA Lethbridge & District has been rooted in Lethbridge for 75 years, continuously adapting to the needs of the community. In 2024, the organization continues to play a crucial role in addressing the escalating social and economic challenges faced by vulnerable women, children, and youth. With rising housing and rental costs, many families are unable to secure affordable, stable housing, driving them to YWCA services. The rising cost of living further deepens financial instability, leaving individuals at greater risk of homelessness and domestic violence.

In the face of many challenges, including an ever-evolving political landscape, the YWCA remains one of the few organizations offering comprehensive, gender-focused services that address the intersectional nature of these complex issues. The speaker will discuss how the organization is navigating these current challenges, preparing for the future, and YWCA staff members will share first-hand experiences about the organization’s evolution and the direct impact its services have on individuals’ lives.

Speaker: Jill Young

Jill Young is an innovative leader with a diverse background that spans the non-profit sector as well as sports, science, and the entertainment industry. Joining YWCA in 2022, her career is distinguished by the seamless integration of her experiences across these various sectors, all driven by a commitment to community empowerment and engagement. As the CEO of the YWCA, Jill leverages this wealth of experience to drive impactful change.

Jill is particularly passionate about addressing issues related to domestic & gender-based violence, homelessness, and social inequality. With over 20 years in management and leadership positions, she can be characterized by a collaborative approach, ensuring that after 75 years in Lethbridge, the YWCA remains responsive to the evolving needs of the community.

There’s a whole new vehicle technology out there - electric vehicles. When you’re in the market for a new or new-to-you vehicle a question arises. Is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) right for you?

This presentation looks at the pluses and minuses of fully electric vehicles. Amid the flood of information and disinformation out there, we’ll pick out some of the more important things you need to know about BEVs.

Speaker: Tom Moffat

Tom Moffat is a retired Information Technology Manager, where he spent lots of time investigating new technologies. Prior to landing in the computer field, he worked in a large variety of industries, including oil and gas, mining and tax assessing for the Canada Revenue Agency.

Since retiring, he’s been following his passions, such as novel writing, presenting concerts with the Lethbridge Folk Club, travel, and exploring the new world of electric vehicles.

The speaker will present the latest strategies for reducing methane emissions in cattle, focusing on how advancements in rumen microbiome research and optimized nutrition can lower environmental impact. He will highlight new data and technologies that improve feed efficiency and sustainability in cattle production.

Speaker: Dr. Tim McAllister, Lethbridge Research and Development Research Centre

Dr. Tim McAllister is a Principal Research Scientist at AAFC’s Lethbridge Research Centre. His research focuses on microbiology, nutrition and beef production and on food and environmental safety issues related to livestock production, strategies for mitigation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, prion inactivation within the environment, antimicrobial resistance in bacteria in feedlots and investigating the discovery and characterization of fibrolytic enzymes from rumen microbes. He also has extensive research experience in GHG emissions within animals from manure and the impact of manure handling procedures, such as composting, on emissions. He is the author or co-author of over 950 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 90 reviews, as well as over 1200+ abstracts and conference proceedings.

A continued focus on strengthening research partnerships and strong performance in federal grant agency support sees ULethbridge among Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities spurred by a second-place ranking amongst all undergraduate universities in the growth of research income as it relates to industry partnerships.

The partnerships forged in recent years highlight the fact that ULethbridge researchers are helping solve important issues facing small and big businesses, industrial partners, agri-food, tech and many other sectors. ULethbridge have long excelled in fundamental research, something that continues to earn strong support from federal granting partners, and more recently have garnered the attention of valuable partners who recognize researchers have answers to issues they need addressed.

The speaker will define the flow of different research funding streams at ULethbridge and argue for the importance of collaboration between post-secondary institutions, governments and businesses.

Speaker: Dr. Dena McMartin

Dr Dena McMartin is the Vice President (Research) at the University of Lethbridge. She is a leading researcher focused on rural, agricultural, and industrial water resources management and treatment, as well as impacts of freshwater climate extremes on communities and economies. Dena joined ULethbridge in 2021, having previously served in academic leadership and faculty roles at both University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina.