Reading the biographies of the four newest members of Mount Royal’s Alumni Council is a humbling activity and clearly illustrates these MRU alumni have two things in common — they had rewarding student experiences at Mount Royal, and they are each generous with their time and energy as volunteers for causes they are passionate about.

The Council, the representative body for the University’s more than 110,000 alumni, welcomed the four new appointees — Eric Bennett, Bronson Ha, Lauren Steeves and Steven Trottier — at its most recent meeting on Sept. 28.

“I've been striving to stay attached to such an important part of my life, and have remained involved at MRU in various ways with the Harry G. Schaefer Mentorship Program, the International Student Exchange office, and as a guest speaker at alumni events,” says Bennett, a senior wealth advisor with ScotiaMcLeod/Scotia Wealth Management and a 2007 graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Financial Services.

“Joining the Alumni Council to engage with our 110,000 alumni around the globe seemed like a natural next step.”
When he isn’t managing retirement portfolios or volunteering for his alma mater, Bennett is also involved with the Rotary Club of Calgary, CerviCAL Action Canada and a unique fundraising event he co-founded called Spin For Life.

Meanwhile, Steeves, a 2017 graduate with a Bachelor of Communication – Public Relations and an account manager at North Strategic, has regularly guest lectured at the University and provided counsel and event support to the Public Relations program’s 50th anniversary. She also dedicated her time to volunteering at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition and for The Judy Project at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

“From MRU's small class sizes, to its strong belief in community service and its commitment to providing students with real-world experience and opportunities, it's safe to say the MRU experience is unique and unlike any other post-secondary institution,” said Steeves. “I look forward to working with Alumni Council members, the University at large and its alumni network to help showcase and celebrate what makes MRU and its alumni different.”

The Mount Royal University Alumni Association’s (MRUAA) mandate is to promote engagement between alumni and the University, and within the alumni community, for purposes of providing reciprocal benefits to alumni and the University. In turn, the Council provides leadership to those efforts on behalf of the association, and is a representative voice for alumni to the institution.

MRUAA president Danielle Gibbie, a 2015 graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration and director of institutional partnerships for Operation Eyesight, has chaired the Alumni Council since it launched in October 2019. She says Council members have spent that time building from the ground up, “ensuring the Council has the foundation and the framework to be sustainable for years to come so we can effectively serve the alumni community.”

Now with a total of 11 volunteer members, the group is ready to embark on the next chapter of work more visible to the campus and alumni communities.

Gibbie says the Alumni Council has identified a number of goals to collaborate on with the Office of Alumni Relations over the next five years, with three of these as their immediate priority:

 

- to engage more fully with the University community, bringing alumni involvement and perspectives to key university initiatives and strategic planning;

- to build awareness of the Council among alumni stakeholders and to strengthen the bond between the MRUAA’s 110,000 members and the University;

- and, to actively work with the University to provide alumni engagement and volunteer opportunities in all facets of campus life: on the Council’s own working groups, and by supporting students through guest lectures and mentorship opportunities.

 

In January, the Council will be announcing opportunities to the wider alumni community to join working groups formed to advance these priorities. All alumni who are interested in gaining professional volunteer experience and giving back to their alma mater are encouraged to apply.

“Just taking the first step to get engaged with something that is outside of your personal and professional lives tends to lead to amazing experiences, new relationships and a deeper connection to the community around us,” says Bennett.

“For anyone considering becoming a more engaged alumni member, I'd say go for it,” Steeves says enthusiastically. “The MRU community is incredibly welcoming and warm, and the genuine connections and endless learning opportunities forged through MRU are invaluable.”

Meet all 11 Council members. Alumni are encouraged to reach out to the Council with feedback and questions by emailing alumnicouncil@mtroyal.ca.
— Matthew Fox