Laurie Bell graduated from UFred's certificate and diploma programs in health, safety, and environment in 2015. He has since worked as an instructor for safety courses through organizations like St. John Ambulance. Prior to his studies, Laurie had only a 7th grade education and worked jobs like logging and construction. He found returning to education after 30 years to be a challenge but is proud of his accomplishment in completing the programs. Laurie recommends UFred for its flexible, distance learning programs that allow students to progress from certificates to degrees and for the professional support received from faculty and staff.

1. Alumni Profile: Laurie Andrew Bell
lbellemerald@shaw.ca
A graduate of UFred’sCHSEP/SHEMcertificate/diplomaprogramsin2015, Laurie Bell currentlyservesas
an Instructorfor St. JohnAmbulance andGreenSeal CertifiedSafetyCourses .(www.sja.ca,
www.greensealsafety.com). A native of The Cowichan ValleyonVancouverIsland,he hastravelled
across the Province of BritishColumbia forhiscurrentpositionwhichhe hasheldsince 2011.
However, Laurie wasnotalwaysan educatorandtrainer.Yet he understoodthe critical importance of
safetyinhis priorwork life asa logger,faller,firstaidattendantandconstructionlaborer.
Laurie Bell’sachievementatUFredis notlessthaninspiring!Forpriorto embarkingonhiseducational
journeywiththe University,Laurie hadonlycompletedthe 7th
grade andself-admittedlywascomputer
illiterate.
He states,“The prospectof undertakinganykindof studies after30-plusyearsof absence fromschool
appearedtome quite aformidable challenge…especiallyatthe diplomaandcertificate levels.Sotohave
embracedthischallenge andtohave seenitthroughtoa successful conclusionstandsoutasthe one
careeraccomplishmentIammost proudof.”
Laurie isalso proudof his family,includinghiswife Lee-Annof 27 yearsand three children,twinboys
Jordanand Nolan,whoare 24 yearsoldand hisdaughterPayton,whojustrecentlyturned 16. His
achievementatUFredis certainlyasource of familypride aswell as anexcellentrole modelforhis
children.
In hisspare time,Laurie isan avidsportsfishermanandvolunteermemberinthe SJA Brigade and
memberof the CanadianSocietyof SafetyEngineering.
As someone whohasspentagreat deal of time workingoutdoorsin forests,he feelsadeepconcernfor
the environment. Laurie observes,“We asCanadiansare veryfortunate tolive insucha beautiful
countrywithso manynatural resources.However,here inCanadaaswiththe rest of the world,all of
these resourcesare finite.The earthhasonlyso muchto give and itis beingconstantlyabusedand
poisonedbyman.Eventually,we willarrive atthe tippingpoint.Inthisso-calledLearningSociety in
whichwe live,we knowthatwe are not doingenoughtooffsetthe impactwe have onthe earthto
maintainitshealthandsustainitscreatures.AsCanadians,we shouldbe atthe forefrontof
sustainabilityinitiatives.Sadly,we are lagginginmanyareasas comparedto othercountriesaroundthe
world. Asa consequence,we musttemperouractivitieswiththe thoughtof the generationsyetto
come.”
He notesthatwhat attractedhimto studyat UFredwas itsuniqueness,“Inthatitis one of if notthe
only institutionof learninginCanadawhose curriculaare progressive,inthe sense thattheyoffer

2. coursesthat can take a studentfromthe certificate leveltothe diplomalevel andfinallyontotheir
degree studies withintheirdesiredfield. Also,because all the studiesundertakenatUFred are basedon
distance learning-- meaningitsdoorsare open24/7—thisenables studentstoarrange theirown
schedules,allowing forminimumdisruptionof otherfacetsof theirlives,suchasworkand family.”
Laurie alsonotesthat hiseducationatUFred isnot overyet! He wantsto note that for those who
choose to studyinthe fieldof Health,Safetyandthe Environment,the Universityoffersaseriesof
preparatoryexaminationsforthose whowishtopursue theirCRSPdesignation. He mentionsthatthese
are offeredatnocharge to UFredalumni. Thisseriesof examinationsallow aCRSPcandidate the ability
to focushisor her studiesaround the subjectmatterwhereinhe maydisplaysome weakness.
Laurie feelsstronglyaboutUFredandrecommendingittoothers.He says, “I wouldhave tosay that my
recommendationwouldbe partiallybasedonthe consummate professionalismdisplayedbyevery
individualateverylevel withwhomIhadcontact at UFred. The teamassembledbySayersand
Associatesissecondtonone,fromthe professorstoeverylevel of administrative andtechnical support.
AlsoanotherreasonforrecommendingUFredisthe highlevelof educationstudentsgarnerthrough
theircurriculaand the Canada-wide recognitionthe Universityhasreceivedforthe qualityeducationit
offers.”