Lethbridge Polytechnic Alumni

Where are you Wednesday!

Meet Sarah Vriend, a 2022 Bachelor of Ecosystem Management graduate.

Growing up hunting and fishing, Sarah always had a passion for conservation. Her Indigenous background also provided exposure to skills like mushroom and berry foraging from a very young age. Sara’s interest in plants, animals and protecting the ecosystems where they live made choosing the Bachelor of Ecosystem Management program an easy choice.

Today, Sarah works as a biologist at the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) in Lethbridge and is working toward her professional agrologist membership. She was always told that becoming a biologist was a near-impossible goal to achieve, but Sarah is proof that hard work and determination can accomplish any goal.

“If you put the hard work in school and do the exhausting, but fun summer jobs, you can get where you want to be,” says Sarah.

Sarah’s main role at the ACA is providing rangeland health assessments, a path she would have never chosen if not for a rangeland management course she took at the polytechnic.

Contributing to conservation at the plant community level is one of the aspects she enjoys most in her role.

“By surveying range health, I can help landowners plan to effectively graze their pastures while allowing the wildlife species that use their land to flourish,” says Sarah. “Learning to work with the land and not against it can have very positive and rewarding results.”

In addition to assessing rangelands and contributing to the conservation of native grasslands, Sarah also conducts wildlife surveys. This includes surveys for species at risk in southern Alberta, like the greater short-horned lizard, prairie rattlesnake and burrowing owl.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons, who tag along on all their adventures, whether it is fishing, hunting or hiking. She also enjoys cooking, baking and canning, especially when it involves things her family has either grown or harvested themselves.

📍 Where are you Wednesday!
During National Nursing Week, we’re proud to spotlight Samantha Savage, a 2019 graduate of the collaborative Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) program between Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge .

For Sam, the road to becoming a nurse came with more than its fair share of obstacles. In her second year, she suffered a major stroke that nearly changed the course of her future. Despite the severity of the situation, Sam returned to class after missing just four instructional days. Then, in her third year, a serious fall left her with a badly broken foot requiring reconstructive surgery and what loved ones affectionately call “Frankenfoot.” Through recovery and perseverance, Sam fought her way to the finish line and into the nursing career she had always dreamed of.

After completing her NCLEX exam, Sam accepted a charge nurse position in a small northern Alberta hospital, jumping into leadership early in her career and gaining invaluable real-world experience. Sam continued developing her skills, completing her perioperative nursing credential through MacEwan University.

Today, Sam works as a perioperative nurse at Vermilion Health Centre, where she thrives in the ever-changing pace and intensity of the operating room and post-operative recovery care. She loves the challenge of having to think quickly, adapt in the moment and respond calmly in high-pressure situations . Working in a rural community has made the role even more meaningful, allowing her to be part of a close-knit health-care team that makes a direct impact every day.

Looking ahead, Sam hopes to continue her education by pursuing either her Nurse Practitioner designation or becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Outside of work, Sam is a passionate quad racer and manages a mud bogging team called Twisted Sisters. She loves fast vehicles, getting muddy and bringing home trophies along the way.

We’re proud to celebrate alumni like Sam this National Nursing Week and grateful for the compassion, resilience and care nurses bring to our communities every single day.

Where are you Wednesday!

Meet Tannis Bassett, a 2017 graduate of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Child and Youth Care diploma.

After graduating from the polytechnic, Tannis continued her studies at MacEwan University , earning her bachelor’s in child and youth care in 2021. She says the diploma program at Lethbridge Polytechnic did an incredible job preparing her for her degree and setting a strong foundation for her career in the field.

Over the past decade, Tannis has worked in licensed daycare, out-of-school care, and youth programs in various leadership roles, allowing her to support children, families and communities. Through these experiences, she discovered a passion for creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore, create, and grow into their authentic selves.

Today, Tannis is the program director of Discovery Kids Out of School Care, a brand-new program opening in Calgary. The program is designed to bring a fresh and modern approach to redefining out-of-school care, focusing on creativity, connection, exploration and providing a place where children feel safe to be their true, authentic selves.

Tannis says one of the most exciting parts of her current role is the opportunity to help build an out-of-school program from the ground up. Allowing her to create a space where children can build friendships, explore their interests, and develop confidence through meaningful experiences both inside the program and in the community.

Tannis also enjoys staying connected with the Child and Youth Care program at Lethbridge Polytechnic. She has returned to campus to reconnect with former instructors, including Allen Ledyit, and has been invited back as a guest presenter to the Foundations and Roles of Child and Youth Care course. Tannis shares her experiences in the field and how the knowledge and values from the program continue to guide her practice today.

📍 Where are you Wednesday!

Meet Eric Pollard, a 2018 Renewable Resource Management and 2020 Bachelor of Ecosystem Management graduate.

From weekly labs and three weeks of fieldwork every semester to wildlife identification and report writing, Eric says the amount of hands-on experience gained was what attracted him to the polytechnic. His biggest takeaway, however, was the people Eric met. He says he is still very close with many of his instructors and classmates.

After graduating, Eric went on to complete a master of science at the University of New Brunswick, studying spatial distributions of a seabirds on the east coast of Québec. Currently, Eric works for Seabridge Gold Inc. as a lead field biologist and coordinator, a role he says provides fulfillment in doing what he can to better the natural world.

“I use the skills I learned at Lethbridge Polytechnic every day,” says Eric. “As a professional biologist, it is important for me to properly identify wildlife species and recognize their behaviour, traits and habitat usage. I also write reports and memos daily for clients and supervisors. Another skill I learned at school.”
Outside of work, Eric spends a lot of time outdoors enjoying a variety of activities, including hiking, cycling, birdwatching, rock climbing and hunting. He also enjoys travelling, from experiencing different cultures and their foods to, of course, viewing the flora and fauna found elsewhere in the world.

📍 Where Are You Wednesday
Meet Cassidy Langridge, a 2020 graduate of our Digital Communications and Media program.
Cassidy is now a Digital Branding Specialist with 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union, blending creativity with strategy every day through storytelling, design and digital content.
From video production and photography to social media and communications, her versatile skill set allows her to take projects from concept to launch. Cassidy credits her hands-on experience at Lethbridge Polytechnic, working with real clients on real projects, for helping her build a strong portfolio and transition confidently into her career.
“Looking back, my time at the polytechnic marked the beginning of an exciting professional journey. It gave me not only technical skills, but also confidence, professionalism and collaboration skills that shape how I work today.”
Outside of work, you’ll find Cassidy reading mystery novels, gaming, building LEGO and adding to her ever-growing plant collection.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the achievements of our alumni and the impact they’re making in their communities at the Honouring Excellence Award Ceremony.

👏 Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
• Distinguished Alumni — Darryl Jarina
• Career Virtuoso — David Muryn
• Community Leader — Tristin Mercer
• Rising Star — Ivan Djomegni

Thank you as well to everyone who helped make the event possible.

A special thank you to our video sponsor, SENSORED for helping bring these stories to life. Watch those videos here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrqUhIh8z8fxuZzrh78KmG9nXKTyyWY86&si=uEoklUAJ-NbCuxy-

Where Are You Wednesday! 🎶

Meet Tonya Woolford, a 2006 graduate of Communications Arts – Broadcast Journalism, whose curiosity, creativity and love of connecting people have shaped a diverse, community-focused career.

Tonya jokes that her dream of being paid to listen to music made choosing Broadcast Journalism an easy decision. What truly set the program apart for her was the opportunity for self-guided discovery, where she realized she excelled at putting the right people and pieces together.

While still a student, Tonya spent her summers working as a tourist information and museum interpreter, as well as in promotions and on the street team at Rogers Radio in Lethbridge. She was employed before graduating and stepped into her first radio role as a promotions director.

After several years in radio, Tonya transitioned into the non-profit sector as executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank, before moving into outside sales in the technology sector with Digitex and most recently Xerox Canada. She credits her natural curiosity and her “unnatural” lack of fear when it comes to trying new things and talking to anyone as key influences on her career path and the relationships she’s built throughout the community.

Tonya is now excited to begin a new chapter at Lethbridge Polytechnic as a development officer, where she continues to believe education is the key to growth.

Outside of work, Tonya is a proud mom whose children are now grown and pursuing their own exciting paths. She’s also a devoted animal lover with two dogs, four chickens and one grandpup named Harry. And after all these years, music remains her first true love.