USask opens downtown gathering space in Calgary

While Calgary is proudly known for the ‘C of Red,’ you can expect to see more green and white in the future.

With more than 10,000 alumni in Calgary and area and another 26,000 living and working throughout Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) officially opens its Calgary Hub for alumni on Monday, March 7 at its new downtown location.

“Many of our alumni are community builders who have helped Calgary become a global leader in the energy sector,” says USask President Peter Stoicheff. 

“It’s also important we are here in Calgary due to the significant amount of USask research that happens in the Calgary area and across Alberta,” he added. “For instance, a number of our researchers, tackling some of the world’s most challenging water security issues such as flooding and drought, are based in Canmore. The hub is a way for us to show the Calgary community that we are addressing issues that matter to Western Canada and the world.”

Located in the heart of downtown on 3rd Ave. S.W., the USask Calgary Hub features meeting rooms and gathering areas, serving as a home base for regional alumni groups, a space for professional and educational opportunities, and a venue for events and other USask activities in Calgary. It will be used by members of the USask community including alumni, university leaders, faculty, staff, students, community stakeholders, and business partners.

Calgary is currently the only city outside of Saskatchewan where there is a dedicated USask community space like this. Stoicheff believes it is critical USask have a presence in one of Canada’s largest and most vibrant cities.

“Calgary is home to USask’s largest alumni population outside of Saskatoon and has long been a magnet for so many talented graduates of our many programs,” Stoicheff said.

USask Chancellor Grit McCreath (BEd'91), a Calgary resident, said the Calgary Hub “provides a gateway for USask to deepen relationships with alumni and with the broader Calgary community through events, collaboration opportunities and space to work.”

Calgary resident Tracey Jungwirth, who earned a USask Bachelor of Science in 1992, is a member of USask’s alumni advisory board and dedicated volunteer.

“This space keeps us engaged as alumni with the place where we got our start all those years ago,” said Jungwirth. “So many of my fellow alumni have gone on to accomplish incredible things, and to be able to stay connected to each other in Calgary is really special.”

Following her first degree at USask, Jungwirth obtained a master’s degree in metamorphic geology at the University of Calgary and has since worked as a professional geologist in data and technology roles for numerous companies in Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

Alumni are invited to stop by if they are looking to conduct business, connect with other alumni, or simply get some work done. It will also be used as a gathering space for alumni to host events and for USask staff to conduct business with alumni stakeholders, corporations and agencies.

The innovative space includes an executive boardroom with seating for 12 and is equipped with an LCD display screen, video and teleconferencing capabilities, whiteboard, and high-speed wireless internet access.