In 2000, MacEwan had just developed a partnership with Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Our vice-president, Academic had taken all the deans there to familiarize themselves with the institution and to look for partnership opportunities. When my dean, Dr. Peter Mitchell, returned, he told me about this wonderful field station in the rainforests of eastern Ecuador. "How would you like to see it for yourself and find out if there are any opportunities to take students there?"

In spring 2001, three colleagues and I went to visit the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. I'm an ecological biologist, and in my courses I would teach about rainforests and how they compare to other ecosystems. I was somewhat naive to think I knew a lot about rainforests. When I stood in one, I felt the humidity; took in the sights, sounds and smells; and experienced the animals and diversity. I realized that I didn't know much about rainforests. I could teach everything that was in the textbooks, but to actually be there was a profound experience. To stand in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world was a biologist's dream.

When we came back to MacEwan, we put together a rainforest ecology course — could you imagine a course in Canada that included a field trip to Ecuador?

In 2002, we took our first group of students there. With one exception, this was repeated every year until 2018. I was able to accompany the student group during 14 of those years. All told, we took 190 students, and several biology faculty and staff members, to experience the rainforest in Ecuador.

—Dr. Rick Lewis

Dr. Rick Lewis taught science and biology at MacEwan for 28 years, continuing to teach even when he took on the role of director of MacEwan International. He retired in 2014, and continues to travel when he can and spend time with his grandchildren.