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In the mid-1990s, Colin Baril , ’98 BCom, spent his days in business classes and his evenings in student clubs and extracurriculars at the University of Alberta.

He vividly recalls standing in the atrium of the Alberta School of Business selling tickets to students for an upcoming self-development seminar. Being extroverted was outside his comfort zone but he wanted to meet new students — one in particular caught his eye. Baril remembered her name and what she was studying, and the next time he saw her, he convinced her to buy a ticket to the event.

The interaction stuck with Baril, and the next time they crossed paths, he offered her a ride home. This year, he and Sonia Baril, ’97 BCom, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

As it turns out, Baril has a knack for making the most of moments of connection. He has crafted a career in fundraising, community engagement and alumni relations. And now, he has returned to his alma mater as director of alumni relations and executive director of the U of A Alumni Association. 

As Baril marks this homecoming, he shares five things he has learned about channelling connections and community for good.

1. Affinity matters

Baril made his foray into alumni relations while still an undergrad, volunteering with — an international organization that connects youth with leadership, internship and volunteer opportunities around the world. Baril helped facilitate an exchange program, approaching Edmonton businesses to secure internships for international students so �������� students could take job placements abroad.

“I realized quickly that the people who said ‘yes’ the fastest were the ones who had been at the U of A in the decade past and were now in a position where they could hire,” he says. “That was the start of me recognizing the power of alumni connecting back with their organization … affinity is a powerful tool.”

2. Commonality drives change

To really harness the power of a community, it’s useful to identify what values you share.

When it comes to U of A grads, Baril says we tend to pull together. “We’re in this northern, somewhat remote, community and we’ve got to take care of each other … it creates a sense of belonging.”

The data back this up. Not only do U of A grads contribute $250 billion a year to the global economy, they give roughly $979 million in charitable donations annually and 86 per cent volunteer, surpassing the Canadian national average, according to a 2024 survey by Ernst & Young.

Armed with this knowledge, Baril looks forward to connecting with grads to understand what gets them excited to give back — whether that’s mentoring a student, sharing their expertise at a campus event or networking with new grads or old classmates.

3. Stories are essential

Success is one thing. Sharing your success is another. Whether you’re part of a company, volunteer team or grassroots group, telling your story increases your impact exponentially, says Baril.

He learned this lesson first-hand while living in Honduras with his wife and kids, where he served as the chair of the board of directors for a small international school. At the time, the school’s achievements were overshadowed by a larger nearby institution. Baril recognized many of the smaller school’s Honduran graduates were securing prestigious university scholarships and building successful careers at home and abroad.

“We started connecting with those waves of Honduran students. I hired a communications officer who helped tell their stories. Ultimately, the enrolment to the school doubled,” says Baril. In his new role, he anticipates sharing stories about U of A grads around the world.

4. Failure sparks creativity

Best intentions aside, you cannot always predict what will unite a community for a common cause. Borrowing from his lessons as an amateur cake decorator, Baril says it’s valuable to try something new, and then adapt if it goes sideways. 

While has witnessed baked creations literally slide away and collapse in the summer heat, Baril says he enjoys the challenge of finding a solution amid the unexpected. For example, in his former alumni relations role at the University of Ottawa, Baril realized a formal gala for business grads was not connecting alumni back to the institution as anticipated. He and his team changed course, opting for smaller group luncheons where more meaningful connections were made.

“[It’s about] trying something out, being creative, failing fast and learning from it.”

5. The goal is facilitation, not force

When it comes to bringing people together, Baril says he has learned that his role is to ask questions, make introductions and then know when to step back.

“I don’t have all the solutions. I’m just asking, ‘How do I help make sure that researcher who’s about to cure that next disease is getting the support they need? How do I connect two people who will come up with a new business idea?’”

As he leads U of A’s alumni relations, Baril says he looks forward to facilitating one-to-one relationships and creating virtual and in-person events where new connections can form.

“The university has amazing opportunities to reconnect. I want to help ensure that grads who want to get involved, who want to contribute, who want to see the value of their degree increase, have the opportunity to do so.”