While Mount Royal University enters an era of chaos as the end of the winter semester grows near, here in the Calgary Journal newsroom, we have been completely enamoured and engrossed with the Artemis II mission.
The crew of four completed their mission to the moon and back on Friday evening, following the vessel’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Diego.
The 10-day mission witnessed a series of historical events, including the first lunar eclipse observed with the naked eye. During the eclipse, the astronauts donned protective eye gear called “eclipse glasses” to safely and properly view the phenomenon.
The crew also shared an emotional moment after reporting their discovery of new moon craters on the far side of the moon back to NASA. Canadian Astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, led the call, which requested that one of the craters be named Carroll, after the mission commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife.
The crater was described as “a bright spot on the moon” by Hansen as Wisemen clutched his arm while wiping his tears. The crew embraced each other in a hug following the transmission, and the love could truly be felt from the moon and back.
For us, this moment was what this mission was all about — bringing love and humanity to the stars (and hopefully finding a Vulcan ship or two while we are out there).
You may also find that our photo gallery is a little different this week. While we try to showcase student photography, we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to share some first looks at photos from the dark side of the moon.
Here are some standout stories from this week:
Calgary police announce youth art contest amid rising crime, AI concerns
By Sarah Palmer, School-aged youth can show what safety means to them through art at the annual event
Plans to open Canada’s first public dementia-inclusive park in Calgary this fall
By Lexy Dame, Dementia-centred park reduces stigma and raises awareness about living with this condition
How anti-abortion protests on campus are affecting students at Mount Royal University
By Cayley Carmichael, University stresses its role is limited and demonstrators can exercise ‘their constitutionally-protected right to freedom of expression’
Journalism student wins big at MRU entrepreneurial pitch competition
By Mia Smith, Janine de Castro wins $25,000 in prizes at the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition
Featured Podcast Listening:
MRU Listening
Community Podcast Initiative: What’s your Story?
Join Mount Royal University fourth-year students as they share stories about everything from art and music to death and loss and much more in between.
News+Business
Vox’s Today, Explained: Kanye’s comeback
The rapper, who sold swastika T-shirts and released a song called “Heil Hitler,” says he’s sorry. Ye or nay?
Lifestyle+Culture
Scamfluencers: Sean Kingston: Beautiful Lies
When Sean Kinsgston burst onto the music scene as a teenager, he seemed like a feel-good success story – an upbeat, clean-cut star collaborating with artists like Justin Bieber. But behind the glossy image was a far darker reality.
What are we listening to?
BBC Studios: Killing Victoria
This is your A&E and newsletter editor, Emma Miller’s, podcast pick of the week.
Photo Gallery:
PHOTO SUPPLIED: NASA
(April 6, 2026) – The small, bright spot in the center of the image is the crater that the Artemis II crew have proposed as Carroll, after Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. About 3.5 miles across (5.6 km in diameter), the proposed Carroll crater lies on the near side of the lunar surface, on the western edge, and would be visible from Earth with powerful telescopes.
PHOTO SUPPLIED: NASA
(April 6, 2026) – The Moon, backlit by the Sun during a solar eclipse, is photographed by NASA’s Orion spacecraft on April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II mission. Orion is visible in the foreground on the left. Earth is reflecting sunlight at the left edge of the Moon, which is slightly brighter than the rest of the disk. The bright spot visible just below the Moon’s bottom right edge is Saturn. Beyond that, the bright spot at the right edge of the image is Mars.
PHOTO SUPPLIED: NASA
(April 6, 2026) – CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen is seen making observations through the Orion spacecraft window early in the Artemis II lunar flyby. For the last approximately seven hours, the lunar observation period was the time when the crew was close enough to the Moon to make impactful science observations (4,070 miles altitude at closest approach), and the spacecraft was oriented so that the windows were pointed at the Moon.
PHOTO SUPPLIED: NASA
Below are some Calgary events taking place this week that you may want to check out:
– Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche
When: April 14
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome
Cost: Prices Vary
– 23rd Calgary Underground Film Festival
When: April 16
Where: Globe Cinema
Cost: Prices Vary
–A Night Of Morgan Wallen Music – Calgary
When: April 17, 7:30-9 p.m.
Where: Arrow Head 4630 Macleod Trl
Cost: Prices Vary
Here’s what’s happening with MRU athletics:
By Jana Abbara
Brian Fleming was inducted into the Cougars Athletics Wall of Fame in recognition of a 30-year legacy that helped shape athletics at Mount Royal University. What began as a short-term role in 1985 became a transformative career, with Fleming playing a key part in expanding programs, championing student-athletes, and guiding the university’s transition to national competition.
A driving force behind the development of the MRU Recreation Centre and a strong advocate for athletics as a pillar of student success, Fleming’s impact continues to resonate across campus. He joins fellow builders Al Bohonus, Don Stouffer, and Reid Olsen on the Wall of Fame.
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Thank you for reading. Until next week!
