MEMBER

GUIDE
2018

RLPA.CA

INFO@RLPA.CA
CONTENTS
TABLE OF

WELCOME
3 RLPA President's Welcome

WHO WE ARE?
4 Board of Directors

LEAD 2018
6 Save the Dates
Snapshot of LEAD 2017

FALL BUSINESS MEETING

8 Save the Date
RLPA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
9 Save the Dates

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

10
GET INVOLVED
12 Board Positions, List Serve, LEAD,
Meetings
 RLPA PRESIDENT
WELCOME
On behalf of the RLPA, I’d like to say Welcome!

The RLPA is a fantastic organization of housing professionals that provides a

valuable opportunity for networking and learning in the Canadian context.
 Our organization is a vehicle for members to explore common and upcoming
issues.
RLPA members are from rural, urban, small, medium and large campuses.
 Our strength lies in our common commitment to the student experience.    
The RLPA supports our professional members through shared electronic
communications, networking and professional development opportunities at
our Spring AGM and Fall Business Meeting.   Meetings are hosted by member
institutions which offers an opportunity to share what works on other
campuses.  
The flagship event for the RLPA is the student leadership conference, known
as LEAD.  LEAD marks it’s 30th anniversary in 2018 and over it’s history has
provided a peer driven learning opportunity for over 2000 student leaders.  
I have been a member of the RLPA for over 25 years and I can attest to the
great support provided by peers and colleagues.   I am proud of this
organization and it’s members as we move forward with a new master plan
and continue to foster our affiliation with ACUHO-I.  

Rob Ford
President 2018, Residence Life Professional Association

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 WHO WE ARE

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The Residence Life Professional Association is made up of post -

secondary institutions (PSI’s) across Western Canada. We have over
the past decades created connections among these PSI’s for the
betterment of the student experience in our housing operations.

We are proud of our ever growing diversity by adding new members

each year from Western Canada and beyond.

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BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

Left to Right:
Natasha Reynolds - Mount Royal University (President - Past)
Robert Ford - University of Alberta Augustana Campus(President)
Zoe Woods - Simon Fraser University (President - Elect)
Ian Schultz - University of Alberta (Secretary)
Emily Giugovaz - Olds College (LEAD Chair)
Harrison Linden - MacEwan University (LEAD Chair-Elect)
Dillon Andrus - Red Deer College  (Communications Coordinator)
Kristin Davick - Mount Royal University  (Treasurer) 5
Christine Zapisocki - University of the Fraser Valley (NWACUHO AB Rep)
 LEAD 2018
30th Anniversary
Student-Leader
Conference

19-21
st
OCTOBER
Gull Lake Retreat Center, Gull Lake
Alberta

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Snapshots
LEAD 2017

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 JOIN US

FALL
BUSINESS
&
LEAD 2018
OCTOBER 19-21 2018
Gull Lake Retreat Center, Gull Lake AB
The RLPA Fall Business Meeting (FBM)
will be held concurrently with LEAD
this year to celebrate LEAD's 30th
Anniversary.

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 MARCH 2019

ANNUAL
GENERAL
MEETING
MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY 

MARCH 13-15 2019

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 AWARDS AND
RECOGNITION
We support our diverse membership through several awards, scholarships
2018
and general recognition for their contribution to the association and
Residence Life.  Award nominations will go live prior to the AGM and will
be awarded at the AGM. 

JOSIE LAMOTHE MEMORIAL AWARD FOR

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
In order to recognize outstanding contributions to
Residence Life, the Residence Life Professional
Association is pleased to continue giving an
Outstanding Service Award. The award is named after
someone who made a significant contribution to
Residence Life in Western Canada. All members of the
RLPA are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals.
The Executive Board will evaluate and select the award
recipient and present the award during the RLPA
Annual General Meeting.

RLPA NEW PROFESSIONAL AWARD

VALUE $1000 USD TO ATTEND ACUHO-I

n order to recognize outstanding contributions to

Residence Life, the Residence Life Professional
Association is pleased to recognize and reward
professionals that are new to Residence Life or the
RLPA. The award has an added benefit of encouraging
new professionals to stay in residence life and the RLPA.
All members of the RLPA are encouraged to nominate
deserving individuals. Nominations can be forwarded to
any member of the executive.

RLPA LEADERSHIP SOCIETY

The Residence Life Professional Association
acknowledges the important and significant
contributions that student leaders make to the
residence environment. Each year, the RLPA honours
outstanding student leaders and inducts them into our
own Residence Hall of Fame.

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AWARDS AND
RECOGNITION 2018
We support our diverse membership through several awards, scholarships
and general recognition for their contribution to the association and
Residence Life.  Award nominations will go live prior to the AGM and will
be awarded at the AGM. 

MARK CHYTRACEK LIFE TIME

MEMBERSHIP
This Honour is given to individuals deemed to have
provided outstanding service related to Residence Life
within the RLPA region.  Typically given to individuals
who are retiring, moving into a different area of work or
moving out of our region, this award recognizes
professionals who have dedicated significant time to
our field and in doing so, positively impacted the lives of
both students and colleagues.

STARS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

VALUE $2000 CAD TO ATTEND ACUHO-I STARS
COLLEGE
ACUHO-I STARS College is an educational experience for
student staff that precedes the ACUHO-I Annual
Conference. This opportunity is designed for students
who are interested in a career in residence life and
housing. STARS College mentors students in the areas of
resume building, graduate studies, and networking with
other students and highly experienced professionals.

BEST OF THE RLPA

VALUE $1000 USD TO ATTEND ACUHO-I 

We encourage professional growth and development of

our members. Recognizing that our own members have
substantial knowledge to share the Best of the RLPA
award is presented to a presenter at our Annual General
Meeting. A call for presentations will be sent out prior to
the meeting soliciting presenters and presentations on
topics of interest for Residence Life and Housing. 

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 WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

The RLPA Board of Directors are responsible for leading the

association and supporting the associations mandate and
mission. Director roles rotate on a yearly basis as follows:
DIRECTORS
BOARD OF

MARCH 2018-ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

President
Communications Coordinator
Treasurer
OCTOBER 2018 - FALL BUSINESS MEETING
LEAD Chair - Elect

MARCH 2019 - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

President
Secretary

The development of student leaders and their leadership is an

STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

important cornerstone of the Residence Life Professional

Association (RLPA). In 1989, the inaugural Learn, Educate, Act,
and Dare conference was held at [site]. Modelled after institutional
staff development models, LEAD was designed to be an extension
of training and helping to prepare student leaders for their roles.
Initially, the programming slate was hosted by full-time,
professional staff; however, the conference has evolved to focus
on peer to peer presentations which are complimented by a
LEAD

keynote, social activities, and round table discussions.

In 2018, LEAD will celebrate its 30th anniversary! We are proud to

continue the strong tradition of growing and developing as many
student leaders as possible.

With hundreds of attendees every year, thousands of student

leaders from across Western Canada have attended LEAD and we
want you to be part of this experience. Talk to your professional
staff today about attending the LEAD conference or volunteering
on the LEAD planning committee.

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 WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Every RLPA member is part of a listserv. This means that every

member is on an email list so if you ever have a question and

LIST SERVE
you want to ask the community all you need to do is send an
email to rlpa@mailman.srv.ualberta.ca. Questions get

RLPA
moderated (to reduce spam) so your email will not be sent out
immediately. RLPA members will either respond directly to the
sender, or they can “reply all” and send their answer to the
entire community.

If you are not on the list serve and would like to be placed on it
please send an email to info@rlpa.ca.

Twice a year the members of the RLPA will meet at a host

institution. These meetings offer our membership several valuable
opportunities such as:

Valuable Networking with peers from across Western

RLPA MEETINGS
Canada
Professional Development speakers, presentations and
more. Some past examples (Panel with High School
Counselors on Mental Health, Sexual Violence Policy
Review, Personality Trait Testing and Okanagan Charter
Review)
Canadian Content Focused
Scholarship Opportunities - Best of the RLPA
Round Table Discussion offer formal discussions
around topics of interest relating to the Housing and
Residence Life fields.
Vote as an institution to have your say on the key
decisions of the institution.
Social events and meals

We understand that not every member can attend all of our

meetings every year. We now provide live Web Casting of our
meetings to have a wider reach then ever before!

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