草莓污视频导航

Man and a woman stand in front of a large bus, with a camera man in the foreground, filming them
Filming Dan Allard and Carolyn Emery with the SHRed Mobile, parked outside the Kinesiology Complex. Scott Cruickshank, 草莓污视频导航

April 12, 2024

From researcher to ranch hand: Alum gets into the thick of it for Giving Day

In Giving Day video series, Dan Allard brings humour to the serious business of supporting 草莓污视频导航 initiatives

This isn鈥檛 Dan Allard鈥檚 first rodeo. Having ridden horses and pitched in at cattle brandings, he鈥檚 familiar with the rural scene. All part of his upbringing in Red Deer.

But a fresh challenge has been presented 鈥 and quickly accepted.

Grinning, Allard, BComm'09, drops to his hands and knees. With a camera crew capturing the action, he crawls through dirt and you-know-what into a livestock chute for a cow鈥檚-eye view of vaccination day at W.A. Ranches, 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 19,000-acre cow-calf operation.

For the affable alum, who is the face of 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 Giving Day videos, the stunt is no big deal. Hamming it up on all fours in a mucky barn? Just part of a gig in which he merrily encounters unfamiliar settings while shining a light on university initiatives keen for support.

鈥淚 love putting myself in uncomfortable situations. I just love having new experiences,鈥 says Allard. 鈥淪omeone asked, 鈥榃ould you even consider going in the chute?鈥 I was like, 鈥楢bsolutely. That would be hilarious 鈥 let鈥檚 get in.鈥 Stuff like that, I live for. That鈥檚 so much fun for me.鈥

A two-person crew films a man riding a horse outdoors on a cattle ranch

The film crew captures b-roll of Dan riding a horse around 草莓污视频导航's W.A. Ranches.

Scott Cruickshank, 草莓污视频导航

Playful approach to deliver important message

In the lighthearted segments, Allard always wants 鈥 and always fails 鈥 to help, which reinforces the message. That despite being unable to provide hands-on assistance, our hero discovers that he 鈥 like everyone else 鈥 can make a difference by making a gift on Giving Day.

The annual fundraising blitz is on now until April 18, and again offers donors the chance to have double their impact, with eligible gifts matched up to $2,500, while matching funds last.听

In creating the videos, Allard has been a remarkably good sport. Last year, he strapped on goalie pads and听.

鈥淚 eat that stuff up,鈥 he says, chuckling.

Allard also got to interact with听, and听Dr. Pierre Billon, PhD, at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute.

鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 be听 鈥 that鈥檚 so wild,鈥 says Allard. 鈥淭he others鈥 willingness to show me around and passionately tell me their stories has probably been the best part of the experience.鈥

This time around, he听, PhD, director of W.A. Ranches, a base for veterinary medicine student training and a range of multidisciplinary initiatives, such as wildlife and biological sciences research. Allard got to hear about expansion plans for a permanent structure for research, education and community outreach activities that will elevate the ranch as a true centre of excellence.

Dan also听, PhD, director of the Biological Sciences Greenhouse on the top floor of the Science A building. In addition to accommodating research about crops such as canola, the greenhouse generates fresh produce for the student food bank.

Then 鈥 with the Faculty of Kinesiology鈥檚 Dr. Carolyn Emery, PhD, MSc鈥99, chair of the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, and Dr. Jonathan Smirl, PhD,听associate professor and principal investigator for the Cerebrovascular Concussion Lab听鈥斕, a recreational vehicle customized to facilitate concussion research and injury-prevention education. The program reaches Indigenous and rural communities, so all kids can benefit from it.

Three people in lab coats work with plants in a greenhouse as a camera person films

Dan tries his hand at planting vegetables with Marcus Samuel, centre, and graduate student Ginny Li.

Scott Cruickshank, 草莓污视频导航

Videos give donors behind-the-scenes look at 草莓污视频导航 initiatives

That kind of community impact resonates with donors, and gift matching during Giving Day makes it the perfect time to donate. Since its 2017 launch, Giving Day has raised more than $10 million.

Samuel applauds the crowdfunding approach. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking at thousands of people donating $100 or $10, I think that鈥檚 the way to go,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou essentially publicize what we do here, then people contribute in their own way. All you need to do is make a little bit of a donation, then we can do the job better.鈥

No matter your passion, odds are there鈥檚 a way to advance it through Giving Day. 草莓污视频导航 is home to a wide range of impactful initiatives 鈥 research, student awards, experiential learning and more 鈥 and the video series is an opportunity to highlight some unexpected ones.

鈥淎fter every shoot, I tell people how ridiculous my day was 鈥 like, 鈥楧id you know 草莓污视频导航 has a ranch?鈥 Same thing with the greenhouse and the concussion bus,鈥 says Allard. 鈥淚t鈥檚 letting people know that when you give money, these are the programs it鈥檚 going to. The university has so much more to offer than you might realize.鈥

Producing video features, even only one minute in length, requires patience. There are multiple takes, on-the-fly revisions, lighting and continuity concerns, intros and exits 鈥 and no scripts.

Allard鈥檚 presence helped. Charismatic co-owner of the Cold Garden microbrewery, he鈥檚 never afraid to get his mitts muddy.

鈥淪ome of the things we had him do? That type of attitude goes a long way in terms of making it a fun experience,鈥 says Pajor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful that he鈥檚 also an alum and he鈥檚 engaged. That鈥檚 very positive.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a great messenger for Giving Day.鈥

Dan visits the Faculty of Science Greenhouse

Dan visits the SHRed Mobile

Dan visits W.A. Ranches

草莓污视频导航 Giving Day is April 18.听Whether you support research, student awards or another one of 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 innovative funds, your gift will help change lives and shape the future. Eligible gifts made from April 4-18 will be matched, up to $2,500 per gift, per fund 鈥 but only while matching funds last, so be sure to give early! Make your gift today at听.


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