Awards, accolades, performances and publications were abundant among MacEwan community members over the past few months. We rounded up some of the latest news-worthy moments that centre on our staff, faculty, alumni and students.

In the arts

Joel Jeschke, Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Pop Music ’18, took home the 2025 Western Canadian Music Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year for “Time & Place.” The album was produced by MacEwan faculty member Mark Segger, and features musicians Aretha Tillotson, MacEwan faculty member; Brett Hansen, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music ’15; Brendan McGrath, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music, ’17, and Holly Sangster, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music ’22.

Jeschke was in good company in the category with other MacEwan nominees, including:

• Rubim de Toledo, faculty member and head of the bass section, for his recording “The Drip ” with Department of Music faculty musicians Chris Andrew and Jamie Cooper. 
• Amero, featuring alumni Jacob Rabuka, Bachelor of Music ’23 ; Graeme Newburn, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music ’21,  Roman Debrule, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop. Music ’22; and Bachelor of Music student Liam Shearer.
• The Brasstactics, featuring alumni Kham Serk Yawnghwe, Music ’14; Johnny McCormack, Music ’05; Nicholas Froman, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music ’20; and Bachelor of Music student Liam Shearer.

The ensemble Montuno West, which includes MacEwan faculty members Rubim de Toledo and Chris Andrew, was nominated in the WCMA category of Jazz Artist of the Year for the recording “Raices,” which was recorded at MacEwan by faculty member Paul Johnston for MacEwan's record label, Bent River Records. 

The WCMAs also recognized the university’s TD Music Artist in Residence program, managed by faculty member Olivia Street, with a nomination for a Community Excellence Award.

Composer Andrew Staniland, Music ’98, released a new album, The Laws of Nature, which combines elements of classical, cinematic and electronic music, creating a distinctive sound. 

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival stage was also abuzz with MacEwan community members, including:

• Secondhand Dreamcar: David Babcock, Music ’82 and Distinguished Alumni ’23, Peter Filice, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop ’22, Dana Wylie, Theatre Arts ’99, Kyle Mosiuk, Music ’09, Rooster Davis (David Aide), Music ’92
• AV & the Inner City: Ann Vriend, Music ’00, Crystal Eye, Public Relations ’12
• Blue Moon Marquee: Darcy Phillips, Music ’82
• Nipisiy: Donita Large, Social Work ’82

We were thrilled to catch MacEwan’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre Arts students on stage over the summer in productions with Nuova Vocal Arts, Grindstone Theatre and Walterdale Theatre. Student Layne Labbe was tapped to perform in not one, but two “A-house” (high-ranking theatre) productions – the Citadel’s and Theatre Calgary’s productions of Legally Blonde.

Books, research and publications

Dr. Lisa Martin, assistant professor in the Department of English, has two new books: A Story Can Be Told About Pain, her first novel and Creative Writing in Post-Secondary Education: Practice, Pedagogy, and Research, a blend of memoir and scholarly review. Both books are now available to borrow from the MacEwan library (or can be purchased online).

Theodora Sterling, web content coordinator with the Office of Communications, Marketing and Web Services, published her poem “When” in Funicular Magazine (“Doc Martens” will be in the November issue of Never Mind Magazine and “Grasshoppers,” a short story, in the March 2026 Dark Horses Magazine). 

Kaelynn Hamm, Bachelor of Music in Jazz & Contemporary Pop Music ’21, published the final book in her young adult trilogy titled The Singers Series.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning launched its new journal, Pedagogical Inquiry and Practice. The inaugural issue featured the work of MacEwan faculty members, Dr. Sharon Bratt, Dr. Galicia Blackman, Constanza Pacher, Dr. Lynne Honey, Dr. Tai Munro, Martina King, Dr. Isabelle Sperano (with her students Angeline Santos, Danielle McDow-York, Ingrid Felfly), Hunaina Allana (with her student Shamsa Ali), Alvin Ntibinyane, Dr. Bisi Oyelana, Dr. Lyle Benson and Ashley Stasiewich.

Dr. Shahidul Islam and Dr. Constantin Colonescu published Quantitative Methods in Economics, Business, and Finance specifically for undergraduate students in introductory mathematical economics and quantitative methods courses.

Nature and Its Unnatural Relations: Points of Access by Dr. Joshua Toth and Dr. Alain Beauclair blends diverse disciplinary lenses – literature, architecture, philosophy and education – and invites readers to rethink our relationship with the world in the face of environmental and existential crisis.

Awards, appointments and honours

MacEwan Ventures wrapped up its latest showcase with three award-winning entrepreneurial pitches. Bachelor of Design student Laura Beaudin took top prize ($5,000), followed by Bachelor of Commerce students Allan Lam, Riri Yap and Phillip Yap in second place and NAIT student Josh Annett in third. 

MacEwan’s Ethical Hacking Club (also known as club.eh) students placed sixth overall in the Cyber Power Rankings for the Spring 2025 National Cyber League, competing alongside powerhouse competitors, including California State University, College of William and Mary, and Purdue University. 

Dr. Celia Hatherly, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities, won the 2024 Rising Scholar competition from the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. 

Ashely Stasiewich won the distinguished precarious teaching award from the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations.

Warren Driechel, Management Studies ’92, was appointed as the 24th Chief of the Edmonton Police Service on September 19, 2025.

The 2025 Sherrill Brown Award of Distinction from the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA) was awarded to Dr. Lee Makovichuk, recently retired associate professor in the Department of Human Services and Early Learning. She was presented with the award at a celebration recognizing her and colleagues, Dr. Tricia Lirette and Margaret Mykietyshyn, for their 35-plus years of teaching service.

The Mitchell Art Gallery’s ArtBus project was nominated for a national 2025 Creative City Impact Award in the cultural events category. 

Kirsten Letendre, Bachelor of Science ’22, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contributions to water stewardship and Indigenous education. (Read more about Letendre and how a Métis student award empowered her voice for water on page 26 of Together We Thrive.)