Michael Jorgensen

Michael Jorgensen attended Coalhurst Elementary and graduated from Coalhurst High School in 1982, and he credits his small-town roots and schooling with giving him the “calibre of character” he’s needed to pursue an award-winning career in documentary filmmaking. A writer, producer, director and cinematographer, Jorgensen began his career at RDTV in Red Deer, where he received his first of many Western Canadian Television Photojournalist of the Year honours. He went on to work for an NBC affiliate in Minneapolis, then ITV News in Edmonton. In October 1992, Jorgensen travelled to Somalia to file stories on the humanitarian crisis there. His feature appeared on CNN, which awarded Jorgensen and reporter Ray Rudowski their Best International Feature award. In 1994, he joined the CBC where he continued award winning work. From there, he launched his own business, and as in independent producer, he helped train producers and reporters for the launch of the Discovery Channel’s program “Daily Planet.” As a documentary filmmaker, Jorgensen gained behind-the-scenes access to the U.S. Department of Defence weapons programs for the Emmy Award-winning film “Battle of the X-Planes”; he led an expedition to Northern British Columbia to the crash site of the world’s largest bomber for “Lost Nuke”; he went behind the scenes with people around the world working on launching human missions to Mars for “Mars Rising”; he spent two years following the science team examining a mummified body of a dinosaur discovered in Montana for “Secrets of the Dinosaur Mummy”; he documented the work of forensic experts who exhumed the body of a man at the centre of a Canadian mystery for the show, “Hunt for the Mad Trapper”; and in 2009, he travelled to a secret military location to gather footage for a National Geographic special, “Hitler’s Stealth Fighter,” confirming the existence of stealth technology 30 years earlier than previously thought. For a video montage of Jorgensen’s work, please visit Palliser’s Multimedia section here and select the “Michael Jorgensen Montage” video library.

Edwin (Tex) Wiebe

Tex Wiebe is an accomplished artist whose paintings of the prairies and small-town Alberta can be found in collections around the world. Wiebe, who attended John Davidson and R.I. Baker Schools in Coaldale, struggled academically, but early on, he credited his Grade 2 teacher with recognizing his artistic ability, displaying his work for the whole school to enjoy In Grade 6, his work placed in a national art contest. While still in junior high, he was selling oil paintings to friends and family. He became a sign writer and later a graphic artist with “Tex-Style Sportswear.” He retired at age 50 and refocused his artistic energies on painting once again, working from his home in Coaldale, a mountain retreat in British Columbia or his winter home in Mexico. Following his induction to the Wall of Fame for outstanding achievement in the fine arts, Wiebe generously donated one of his paintings, “Vanishing Giants,” to Palliser Regional Schools. The work will be displayed at R.I. Baker Middle School, where it’s hoped it might inspire students to pursue their own passion for the arts.

Rosella Bjornson

Rosella Bjornson, a student of Champion School and graduate of County Central High School in Vulcan, is a barrier-breaking pilot whose dreams of flying landed her in Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. On her 17th birthday, Rosella's parents took her to the Lethbridge Flying Club for her first flying lesson. Just two months later, in September 1964, she received her private pilot's licence. She went on to attend the University of Calgary, majoring in Geography. In Calgary, she completed her commercial pilot's licence and instructor's rating at Chinook Flying Service. In 1970 she moved to Winnipeg to become an instructor at the Winnipeg Flying Club where she completed a multi-engine instrumental rating and achieved her Class 11 instructor’s rating and the Royal Canadian Flying Club Association Gold Seal of Proficiency. In 1973 Rosella was hired by Transair as a First Officer on the Folker 28, becoming the first female First Officer to fly a jet aircraft for a scheduled air carrier in North America. In 1990, she became the first female captain with a scheduled airline (Canadian Airlines) in Canada. For the next 10 years she continued to fly with Canadian Airlines and then another four years with Air Canada’s ZIP Airlines. In September 2004, after 31 years of service and 18,000 hours of flying time, Rosella retired from the airlines. In 1988, Rosella received both the Western Canada Aviation Museum Recognition Award and the Ninety Nines Certificate of Appreciation (International Organization of Women Pilots); she was inducted into the Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas in 1989; received an Award of Achievement from the National Transportation Board and was named Transportation Personality of the Year by the Northern Alberta Transportation Club in 1991; and in 1997, she was inducted to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.

Dr. Eva-Marie Nosal

Dr. Eva-Marie Nosal was born and raised in Calgary and attended Calgary Christian School throughout her primary and secondary school years. Eva-Marie graduated from Calgary Christian in 1995 and received the Governor General's Academic Medal. Eva-Marie's postsecondary education was supported in large part by scholarships, awards and grants from various agencies. She stayed in Calgary for her undergraduate studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree (piano performance with distinction and a gold medal from the Faculty of Fine Arts) and two Bachelor of Science degrees (applied and pure mathematics with first class honours and a silver medal from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics). Eva-Marie continued her education with a Master's degree in Mathematics at the University of British Columbia where she studied classroom and concert hall acoustics. Moving to on to a doctorate in Geophysics at the University of Hawaii, Eva-Marie's research interests turned to underwater acoustics and marine mammal bioacoustics. After several months as a postdoctoral fellow, she became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering at the University of Hawaii where she teaches graduate classes in Oceanography and Numerical Analysis. She continues to study underwater acoustics and marine mammal bioacoustics, with particular emphasis on developing signal processing techniques to detect, classify and track marine mammals using autonomous hydrophones. Eva-Marie maintains that the most influential teacher of her career was her Calgary Christian high school math and physics teacher -- her mother, Dr. Eva Nosal.

Betty Thomas Quee

(nee Zombori)

Betty Zombori began her elementary education at Huntsville School in Iron Springs. Her family then moved to Picture Butte and she attended Crescent School (now known as Dorothy Dalgliesh) and then graduated from Picture Butte High School in 1968. Today, Betty Thomas Quee is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the Canadian film industry. In addition to helping to establish the Thomas name as the premiere special effects company in Canada since 1978, and supporting dramatic effects for successful film projects around the world, she was the first female stunt coordinator and first female 2nd unit director in Canada. She has also gained experience as director and producer. Betty has been recognized nationally by her peers as "Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year" and has received the international Ambassador's Award from Canada's Ambassador to the United States, in Washington, D.C. Betty also received the Award of Merit from the British Columbia Film Commission for her "Contribution to the Development of the BC Film Industry", and awards from the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for business excellence and innovation. Today, Betty's legacy of commitment to the film industry continues as she leads the Thomas FX Group in its ongoing contribution to the dynamic industry she helped to establish in Canada and to the international entertainment industry.

James Dean Sandham

Since graduating from Coalhurst High School in 1960, Dr. Dean Sandham has made his mark in the field of medicine. He began his medical career as a family physician in Red Deer before moving to Calgary for specialty training, where he discovered a passion for intensive care medicine. In 1977, upon completion of his Fellowship in Internal Medicine and his Fellowship in Pulmonary Diseases at the University of Calgary, he accepted a clinical, administrative, and academic teaching role as the Director, Department of Intensive Care, Calgary General Hospital from 1977 to 1986. He was Director of Critical Care, Foothills Hospital, from 1986 to 2000; Director, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary from 1990 to 2000; and in 1999 became the Regional Clinical Department Head for Critical Care, Calgary Health Region. He also led the creation of an academic department of critical care at the University of Calgary. He assumed the position of Dean, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba in October 2004. In his new position, Dr. Sandham spearheaded a number of initiatives including the opening of the University of Manitoba's Clinical Learning and Simulation Facility; launch of the Physician Assistant Education Program, the first university-based graduate level PA program in Canada; creation of the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation as well as the Centre for Aboriginal Health Education and the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Stream Residency Program. He also spearheaded creation of strategic research teams exemplified by a new Regenerative Stem Cell Research Program. At the time of his induction, Dr. Sandham was Chair of the Manitoba Health Research Council and Member of the Manitoba Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.

Rudy Wiebe

Rudy Wiebe, a former student of the Coaldale Consolidated School, is a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction, one of Canada's most prestigious prizes. His literary career has spanned five decades from his first novel, “Peace Shall Destroy Many,” published in 1962, to his 1973 critically acclaimed “The Temptations of Big Bear,” and 1994’s “A Discovery of Strangers.” In 2007, he received the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for “Of This Earth: A Mennonite Boyhood in the Boreal Forest.” His 1990 book, “Stolen Life: The Journey of a Cree Woman,” written with Yvonne Johnson, great-great-granddaughter of Chief Big Bear, was a finalist for the 1998 Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-fiction. Among Rudy’s many honours, he received the Royal Society of Canada’s Lorne Pierce Medal and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000. Rudy received an honourary doctorate from the University of Alberta, where he taught creative writing since 1967. He founded the U of A’s Faculty of Arts Writers-in-Residence Program and has been Professor Emeritus since 1992. Rudy earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Calgary, his master’s degree from the University of Alberta, and a bachelor of theology from the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Manitoba.

Kimberly Fortin

nee Daniells

Kimberly Daniells was born and raised in Vulcan attending Hazel Cameron Elementary and graduating from County Central High School. She has left her mark on her community in a most literal and creative sense. Having completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, majoring in the study of textiles, Kim returned to Vulcan in 1998. It was at this time that she recognized the need to strengthen the arts community in her hometown. Kim was instrumental in bringing a number of local artists together to form the Nine in a Line Creative Art Society to promote and encourage art in the County of Vulcan. She credits her elementary school art teacher, Mr. Dick Crosby, for always applauding her creativity and continually praised her drawings and other forms of artwork. She also expressed gratitude to teacher and career counsellor Mr. Bill Brookes, who opened Kim’s eyes to the possibility that there could be a career in the arts if she worked hard to pursue it. Some of Kim's work can be seen in a series of large wall murals she was commissioned to paint on buildings in the Town of Vulcan. Although Kim continues to pursue her own passion for the arts through various media and a variety of projects, she is also interested in helping others grow as artists, especially youth. She feels strongly about supporting fledging artists waiting to be recognized and encouraged to create.

Ken Nicol

Ken Nicol, a 1962 graduate of Coalhurst High School, had a long, full career in agriculture economics and policy, in addition to a high-profile political career. Ken received his bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta in 1966. After a summer touring Europe, he returned to the U of A for his master's degree in Agricultural Economics. While working on his master's, he moved to Iowa State University to begin a doctorate in economics specializing in Agricultural Policy and Statistics. While working on concurrent degrees, he worked in the Centre for Agriculture and rural Development. Ken became the Centre's associate director and spent considerable time reporting research results to Congressional, Senate and Commission groups. After leaving Iowa State and the Centre, Ken served as an adviser on public policy to the Minister of Agriculture in Thailand. He returned to the U.S. and served as a consultant to the Department of Agriculture. In 1980, Ken returned to Canada and began teaching at the University of Lethbridge, first in the Department of Economics, then in the Faculty of Management. In addition to teaching, he served as supervisor of the U of L's Business Enterprises and Self-Governing Systems of Indian, Inuit and Metis People (B.E.S.S.), director of the Centre for Aboriginal Management Education and Training, and later as Associate Dean for Students. In 1993, Ken entered provincial politics, serving as a Liberal MLA for the Lethbridge-East riding. For three years, he was leader of the Alberta Liberals. Upon leaving politics, he returned to teaching and the U of L. He also serves on the board of Rural Alberta's Development Fund and chair of the Institute for Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment.

Stacy Roest

Many Canadian kids dream of a career in professional hockey, and for a talented few, the dream becomes reality. That was the case for Coaldale's Stacy Roest. The former student of Sunnyside and R.I. Baker schools and graduate of Kate Andrews High School started playing hockey at age six. When Stacy reached Bantam age, he tried out for the Val Matteoti Golden Hawks in Lethbridge and was a part of the team that won the Purolator Cup Championship as the best Bantam team in Western Canada. In 1990, he joined the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League. During the season, he took his Grade 12 classes in Medicine Hat, but once the season ended, he returned to Coaldale to graduate with friends and former teammates at Kate Andrews High School. In 1994, he signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. From 1995 to 1998, he played with the Adirondack Red Wings, Detroit's farm team. In September 1998, Stacy went to Detroit's training came and he made the team. he played for Detroit until 2000 when he was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the expansion Draft. He played with the Wild from 2000 to 2003. In 2003, he signed back with the Detroit Red Wings, moving back and forth between the Grand Rapid Griffins and Detroit Red Wings. In the summer of 2003, Stacy signed with the Rapperswil, Jona Lakers of the Swiss Elite League. Stacy was part of Team Canada that won a Gold Medal in the World Championships in Moscow, Russia in 2007.

Barbara Ann Stewart

Barbara Ann Stewart was born in Lethbridge and raised on the family farm west of Monarch. she is a graduate of Noble Central School. She went on to obtain her BSc with Great Distinction from the University of Lethbridge, majoring in biology. She the entered the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta, graduating with distinction in 1982. Her interest in critical care medicine and physiology, led her to an anesthesia fellowship, and she has been a member of the Department of Anesthesia at the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton since 1990. Her areas of special interest are in neuro, thoracic and vascular anesthesia. She has been a member of volunteer surgical teams travelling to South America to provide surgical care to the underprivileged. A member of the Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad, Barbara helps provide orthopedic surgery to patients in Ecuador who don't have the money to afford such operations. She describes it as both humbling and gratifying to be able to change the quality of the people's lives forever by performing surgery Canadians would take for granted. At the time of her induction to the Wall of Fame, Barbara's career was in transition, working half time in Edmonton and spending the rest of the time working at Lethbridge Regional Hospital or helping her husband Ron with their cattle and horses. The couple built a home on the site of her great-grandfather's homestead and continued to ranch there.

Garth Warnock

Garth Warnock, a graduate of Picture Butte High School who continued his education at the University of Lethbridge and University of Alberta, has made his mark in medical research. After completing fellowship experience at the Nuffield Department of Surgery in Oxford, he returned to the University of Alberta where his work earned support from Alberta’s Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. His research interest was in the transplantation of pancreatic islets of Langerhans for type 1 diabetes. Clinical studies in islet cell transplantation led to Canada’s first islet cell transplants and the first long-term success after islet cell transplantation worldwide. He developed clinical surgical expertise in management of pancreatic and gastrointestinal disorders and promoted undergraduate and postgraduate education programs. Dr. Warnock joined the University of British Columbia in 2001 as Woodward Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief of Vancouver Acute Hospitals. He has promoted surgery through the Canadian Association of Surgical Chairs, the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons, and serves as Co-Editor in Chief of the Canadian Journal of Surgery. He established clinical and basic studies in pancreatic islet transplantation at the Ike Barber Human Islet Laboratory at Vancouver General Hospital in 2003. Dr. Warnock’s research was honored with the 2005 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Gallie Lecture and the Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) for bringing distinction to Canada. In 2006, the program became the anchor for a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Centre for Human Islet Transplantation and Beta Cell Regeneration. In addition to his continued dedication to research, Dr. Warnock leads a strong commitment to teaching at UBC, Canada’s largest medical school. He also continues to do clinical surgery as well as administer the affairs of the UBC Department of Surgery.

Rick Casson

Rick Casson, a five-term Member of Parliament, representing the Lethbridge riding, is a graduate of Picture Butte High School. His community involvement began long before he entered political politics. He joined the Picture Butte Fire Department in 1970, became deputy chief in 1977 and continued in that post until he retired from the fire service in 1989. He served on town council, nine years as a councillor and another nine as mayor. He was first elected to Parliament in 1997, serving under the Reform Party banner, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservative Party of Canada. His committee work has included chairing the Standing Committee on National Defence and a Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan. His private member's bill, C-252, amended the Divorce Act to give divorced parents who are terminally ill or in critical condition the chance to see their children as long as such access is judged by a court to be in the best interest of the children concerned. It is rare for private member's bills to become law, but in this case, the bill received unanimous consent. Rick has a history of advocating for children's causes, whether through charity work or in Parliament. in 2010, he announced he would not seek re-election in the federal election held in May 2011.

Shannon Kleibrink

nee Getty

Shannon (Getty) Kleibrink started her curling career when she was a student at R.I. Baker Junior High School in Coaldale and continued well past her graduation from Kate Andrews High School. Among the world's curling elite, Shannon's rink brought home bronze medals for Canada from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Shannon, who received her bachelor's degree in physical education (kinesiology) from the University of Calgary in 1992, has enjoyed success at the provincial, national and international levels. She was the first female curler to skip and win the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in 2004. Shannon resides in Okotoks where she is director of the Beach House recreation complex.

Eddie Kwan

Eddie Kwan graduated from County Central High School and attended Hazel Cameron Elementary, also in Vulcan. After high school, he pursued his pre-med degree from the University of Calgary, then completed his ophthalmology degree at the University of Alberta. He is in private practice in Lethbridge. A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, Dr. Kwan is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology in the United States. Upon his induction, the CCHS grad encouraged Palliser students to pursue their own ambitions: "Don't be afraid to follow your dreams, even if you grow up in a small rural community. You will receive an excellent education that will serve you well no matter which path you choose to follow in life. I have made my dream come true."

Barry McFarland

Barry McFarland was born and raised in Carmangay and graduated from County Central High School in Vulcan in 1966. He attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary where he studied business administration. He was first elected to the County of Vulcan council in 1977 and over the years served as reeve, councillor, school trustee, chair of the board of education and as a trustee and chair of the Little Bow auxiliary hospital. In 1992, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing the Little Bow riding. The Progressive Conservative MLA is now in his sixth consecutive term. He has held a number of positions, including Associate Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. He has served on the Legislative Offices Committee, the Cabinet Plicy Committee on Resources and the Environment, the Personal Information Protection Act Review Committee, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He is well known for his commitment to a variety of community service groups in Carmangay, Barons and Vulcan.

Thomas Peacocke

Born in Lethbridge, Thomas Peacocke was raised and attended school in Barons. He continued his education at the University of Alberta and Carnegie Institute of Technology and Art in Pittsburgh. He served for 26 years at the University of Alberta, principally as a teacher of acting and directing, and serving as department chair for five years. He was Head of Acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts for eight years. In addition to teaching, Tom enjoyed a fulfililng career as a director and actor, receiving a Genie Award for his performance in "The Hounds of Notre Dame. Other honours include the Dave Billington Award for contributions to the film industry; a Sterling Award for his service to Edmonton Theatre; and his 1996 induction to the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame. That same year, he was made a member of the Order of Canada. Throughout his career, Tom has been active as a consultant, adviser, committee and board member of numerous foundations, associations and educational institutions. At the time of his induction, he was vice-president (Prairie region) of the National Theatre School of Canada. He continues on the board of governors. In April 2011, Tom received the lifetime achievement award at the City of Edmonton Mayor's Celebration of the Arts.

Tony Vander Woude

Tony Vander Woude was born and raised on a farm northwest of Nobleford and began Grade 1 in the old single-room school. He then moved to the new consolidated school to begin Grade 2. Tony graduated from Noble Central in 1960 and then attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids (B.A. in 1964) and Michigan State University in East Lansing (MA in 1966). Tony then returned to Canada with his wife, Susan Ames, settling in Calgary. Tony began a long career in publishing by taking a position as a sales representative with Addison-Wesley Canada, selling textbooks to schools in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C. Over the years his work brought him into contact with Doyle Nelson, Henry Toews, and John Percevault, all former administrators at Noble Central. In 1983 a promotion to the position of Director of the publishing firm's School Division required a move to Toronto for the Vander Woude family. During his years as head of Addison-Wesley School, the company published many successful math, science, and language arts texts that were used in schools across Canada, including his alma mater, Noble Central. In 1987, Tony was promoted to the position of president and CEO of Addison-Wesley Canada with responsibility for the School, College and Trade Divisions. In 2002 Tony was named chairman of Pearson Education Canada. Tony retired in 2003 after 35 years with the company and moved with his wife to Abbotsford, BC, where he is involved in several volunteer activities, including the mentoring of young business leaders.