Hunting horse with Big Rock

By Stephanie Shewchuk

Big Rock University will launch its Winter Semester this upcoming week with a tribute to Alberta’s Centennial. Dr. Brian Kooyman of the Department of Archaeology will deliver a speech entitled “Horse on the Menu: Ice Age Hunting in Alberta”, the first of four in this semester’s lecture series Wed., Feb. 2.


Kathleen McNally–the daughter of Ed McNally, founder and CEO of Big Rock–started Big Rock University several years ago as a scholarship opportunity for undergraduate students at the University of Calgary.


“This year is the first year we’ve decided to have a theme,” explained Dr. Holger Herwig, Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the U of C.


Herwig is part of the team, also including Mcnally and Dr. Barry Cooper, that selects the keynote speakers for each lecture.


“All proceeds go to undergraduate scholarships and in the last five-and-a-half years, $120,000 has been raised,” added Herwig.


Another benefit of the event, said Herwig, is the interactivity between the speaker and the audience. Once the speech is completed, the floor is opened to questions and audience commentary.


“It’s a wonderful evening to mix a lot of elements together,” he said. “There’s a tremendous mix of all types of people, ranging from ranchers to students to professors.”