Christine Waldner Named Inaugural Alberta Scholar at Queen's Law

Christine Waldner, Law '09, and Dean Bill Flanagan at the wideoconference linked with Alberta alumni to launch the Alberta Scholar at Queen's Law award on December 5, 2006.

Alumni donors in Calgary and Edmonton watched via videoconference as Dean Bill Flanagan introduced Christine Waldner, Law ‘09, as the first Alberta Scholar recipient on December 5th, 2006. Members of the award's steering committee in attendance were delighted to see their inaugural winner at the event, launching the $3,000 entrance scholarship.

The Alberta Scholar at Queen's Law Scholarship was established in September 2006 by alumni and friends from Alberta. It is awarded on the basis of academic excellence to a student entering the first year of Queen's Law (LL.B.) or joint LL.B. program, whose address on admission to Queen's University is in the province of Alberta.

Christine graduated from the University of Lethbridge with great distinction, receiving a Bachelor of Business Management degree majoring in Finance. She was awarded an entrance scholarship upon admission, and a total of eight scholarships, including three renewals over the course of her undergraduate studies. Named to the Dean's List each year, Christine also won the Faculty Gold Medal and the Purchasing Management Association of Canada Award.

Expressing her deep appreciation for the Alberta Scholar award, Christine stated, "It can be difficult to fund a legal education...and it's very nice to have this kind of support." She was especially thrilled to receive a scholarship from her home province and talked about how it is always exciting to find a fellow Albertan at Queen's and how members of the Queen's University Albertans in Law (QUAIL) club welcome new students with enthusiasm. Christine delighted the alumni with her tale of how QUAIL celebrates home events such as hosting the pancake breakfast for the Calgary Stampede. Touched by the honour bestowed upon her, Christine pledged, "I want to assure you I'll be working very hard to give this award justice."

Commencing in 2007, the Alberta Scholar at Queen's Law will be awarded during the admission process. This will greatly assist the faculty in recruiting top academic Albertans, as noted by Christine, "I know that in the future, having this kind of [financial] support will be very helpful [to students] and very attractive for Queen's Law, which is an amazing school!"

Members of the Alberta Scholar at Queen's Law Steering Committee are as follows:

Neil McCrank, Q.C. Law ‘69 (Co-Chair), Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Calgary

Stephen Sibold, Q.C. Law ‘76 (Co-Chair), Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary

Kathleen Cowick, Law ‘01, Macleod Dixon LLP, Calgary

Thomas Hawkesworth, Law ‘71, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Grand Prairie

Terrence Huzil, Law ‘69, Sole Practice, Lethbridge

Peter Jull, Q.C. Law ‘72, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Calgary

John D. Phillips, Q.C. Law ‘78, Miller Thomson LLP, Calgary

Phil Ponting, Q.C. Law ‘72, McLennan Ross LLP, Calgary

Assistant Chief Judge Brian C. Stevenson, Law ‘65, Provincial Court of Alberta, Calgary

Thomas Wakeling, Q.C. Law ‘74, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Edmonton