Campus Notes
At Saint Mary’s, we are grateful for our community of generous donors – alumni, faculty and staff, friends, and organizations. Every donor’s reason for giving is different, but all are united by a passion for giving back to the community.
“I give because I want to create opportunities.”
By Maroon & White |
When Michael Brown started at Saint Mary’s as a mature student, he wasn’t sure he would fit in. “I felt very alone,” he says. “I was scared of failing. I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it through the program.”
However,…
“I give because I believe in Saint Mary’s University.”
By Maroon & White |
Senior Director of Human Resources Kim Squires has a long-standing relationship with Saint Mary’s. For over 40 years, she has been active within the university in several different capacities as a student, employee, volunteer, and fundraiser.
“I’m…
“I give to pay it forward.”
By Maroon & White |
Saint Lucia national Christopher Fevrier vowed that when he made it, he would give back to the community. “I promised myself that I would set up an award,” he explains. “It’s an amazing feeling knowing you can help someone and have a positive impact.”
Dr. Michael Durland named Chancellor Of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
“We are incredibly honoured and proud that Michael Durland BComm’87 DComm’10 accepted the role of Chancellor of the University,” said Saint Mary’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “His long and successful career in corporate Canada and as an entrepreneur and investor positions him as an excellent role model and inspiration for our students and our community.…
Fostering reconciliation and respect
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s is working with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) in Halifax to promote respect and understanding. A new agreement signed in 2019 opens the door for shared programming, projects and research, and will see the university work with the MNFC on how to enhance support for Indigenous students, faculty and staff. The partnership also makes it possible to have an Elder on campus.
Dr. Ellen Farrell releases research findings on Atlantic entrepreneurial ecosystem
By Maroon & White |
A major research project led by Saint Mary’s University suggests Atlantic Canadian startup businesses need to look further afield for innovation, information and funding. A three-year, $210,000 research project exploring the startup community in Atlantic Canada has delivered its final report. The research shows that while the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is highly interconnected, companies…
Saint Mary’s PhD student to receive Research Nova Scotia Quest Award
By Maroon & White |
Brendan Grue, a Saint Mary’s University (SMU) PhD in Applied Science student, is the 2019 recipient of Research Nova Scotia’s (RNS) prestigious Quest Award. “I was surprised and honoured to be chosen,” said Grue. “I think it reflects the growing research community here at Saint Mary’s.” Grue is researching the development of a new class of orthopedic implants to hopefully reduce…
Saint Mary’s part of new $6.5 million offshore de-risking project
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University is part of a major new initiative that adds genomics technologies to traditional geoscience with the aim to reduce the risk for oil exploration in Nova Scotia’s offshore. The $6.5 million project, Validation and Integration of Genomics Solutions for Offshore Oil Exploration in Nova Scotia and Beyond, was one of 20 projects across Canada awarded through Genome Canada’s…
Unlocking overlooked history from a 2,200-year-old Roman villa
By Maroon & White |
When modern technology meets buried remnants from the early Roman Empire, collaborative research has the potential to unearth new chapters of human history never previously analyzed. That’s the thinking behind The Villa di Tito Project: Reexamining Roman Villas, helmed by Dr. Myles McCallum of Saint Mary’s University. The rural Villa site is located amid olive groves on the north slopes of the…
Spelling success: Dr. Nicole Conrad wins $92,000 funding for literacy research
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Nicole Conrad has won an Insight Grant worth $92,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Dr. Conrad’s grant will be used to pursue research on the role of spelling on the development of reading skills in elementary school children. Dr. Conrad and her undergraduate students will perform their next study in Nova Scotia schools. The project involves administering…
Saint Mary’s PhD graduate wins international award
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Samantha A. Penney, a recent PhD graduate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, has received the prestigious 2019 Kenneth E. Clark Student Research Award from the Center for Creative Leadership and the International Leadership Association. “It is an absolute honour to have my dissertation research recognized internationally,” said Dr. Penney. In her award-winning paper on leadership titled…
Major NSERC funding awarded to Saint Mary’s researchers
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s researchers will receive funding worth more than $1.2 million over five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for eight Discovery Grants plus a Discovery Development Grant. The Discovery Grants Program, NSERC’s largest program, supports ongoing natural sciences and engineering research projects with long-term goals. “For a university…
Young historians shine at Provincial Heritage Fair
By Maroon & White |
The future of history is in great hands if the Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Fair is any indication. Eighty students from across the province showcased their excellent and informative history projects on June 6 and 7, in the McNally Theatre Auditorium at Saint Mary’s University. Ranging from Grades 4 to 9, the students researched everything from local theatre and Louisbourg to maple syrup and…
Saint Mary’s Researcher named a Fellow of the American Physical Society
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University physicist Dr. Rituparna Kanungo has been named as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) for her outstanding research on rare isotopes. This honour goes to scientists who have made significant innovative contributions to the field of physics. No more than one half of one percent of the Society’s membership who have been nominated by their peers are elected as…
Undergraduate Astrophysics student publishes a lead-author scientific paper
By Maroon & White |
An exciting milestone usually accomplished by graduate students has been achieved by Sophia Waddell, a third-year undergraduate student in Astrophysics. Waddell is the lead author of a scientific paper with the Royal Astronomical Society. After coming up with the idea for the paper in her High Energy Astrophysics course, she wrote the paper and worked with Dr. Luigi Gallo on a series of revisions.…
Saint Mary’s Venture Capital Students Invest In Haircut House Calls
By Maroon & White |
House calls for haircuts proved to be a cut above the competition and too good an investment to pass up for Saint Mary’s University’s Venture Grade Fund. The fund invested $15,000 in Cribcut, an online booking service that connects consumers with top hair stylists that bring the salon to them. The fund is a student-raised and run venture capital fund, and the first of its kind in Canada. Should…
Saint Mary’s Collaboration With Innu Nation Seen In Documentary Film Screening
By Maroon & White |
Hundreds of people attended the documentary screening of Nakatuenita: Respect which was co-produced by Richard Nuna, Innu Nation, and Dr. Trudy Sable, Community Conservation Research Network (Saint Mary's University) and directed by filmmaker Kent Martin. The documentary tells the story of Ntesinan, a once peaceful territory where Innu families lived in tents, hunted for survival, and learned…
Peaceful Schools International Launches New Books To Help Children Navigate Conflict
By Maroon & White |
Resolving conflict can be tricky enough for adults, but a new series of books published by Saint Mary’s University aims to help children better understand and resolve conflicts respectfully and peacefully. Peaceful Schools International launched the trio of books in the fall semester, in conjunction with the university and the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA). All three…
SMU Faculty Participate As Scientific Experts At G7 Oceans Inspiration Expo
By Maroon & White |
Three Saint Mary’s University faculty members provided their expertise at the G7 Oceans Summit at the Halifax Convention Centre this academic year. The event was held in conjunction with the G7 Joint Ministerial Session on Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Communities. The summit, and the G7 meeting, generally focused on oceans, while the themes of the gathering were plastic reduction, sustainable…
New Indigenous Advisory Council Created
By Maroon & White |
December 2018 saw the creation of the President’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Affairs. Members include:
- Chief Bob Gloade BComm’93, Chief of the Millbrook First Nation (and member of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors);
- Dr. Donald Julien DCL ’17 Executive Director of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq;
- Pamela Glode-Desrochers,…
RBC-SMU Partnership Boosts Entrepreneurial Learning
By Maroon & White |
On February 14, 2019, Saint Mary’s University and the RBC Future Launch Program announced the establishment of the RBC Talent Hub at the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre. Supported by a gift of $695,000 from the RBC Foundation, the program will create new co-operative education positions and expand entrepreneurial coaching, skill building, and mentoring for students, including…
Saint Mary’s University Celebrates New Viola Desmond Bursary
By Maroon & White |
On November 8, Saint Mary’s announced the Viola Desmond Bursary. Established by The Honourable Wilfred P. Moore Q.C., BComm’64 LLD’07 and Ms. Jane Adams Ritcey with the permission of the Desmond Family, the bursary will be given out every year to full-time African-Nova Scotian students at Saint Mary’s, with a preference for female candidates. “Viola Desmond has been very good to our city,…
Sharing The Sacred Fire: Sweat Lodge Erected On Campus
By Maroon & White |
The Oaks lawn now hosts the first ceremonial sweat lodge on campus. The idea stemmed from students taking the Indigenous Peoples of Canada course taught by Professors Trudy Sable and Roger Lewis. With help from Indigenous Student Advisor Raymond Sewell MA’14, his father, and NSCC’s Indigenous Student Advisor Gary Joseph, the group constructed a lodge using wood and rocks gathered in the area…
CODCO Fans Flock To Saint Mary’s For Comedy Troupe’s Reunion
By Maroon & White |
Nearly 500 delighted fans came to see CODCO at the 2019 Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture. The legendary Newfoundland group hadn’t performed together since their ground-breaking TV show went off the air 26 years ago, but Andy Jones BA’69, Cathy Jones, Greg Malone and Mary Walsh kept the audience in stitches at the March 15 event. “The academics at Saint Mary’s who study television really treated…
Saint Mary's and Yale Partner For Experiential Learning In Northern Ireland
By Maroon & White |
This year, a group of Political Science students at Yale University tagged along electronically with Saint Mary’s students participating in the Northern Ireland Conflict Resolution Program trip to Belfast. “Our colleagues at Yale recognize Saint Mary’s as a leader in this type of experiential programming,” says Bridget Brownlow MA’12, SMU’s Conflict Resolution Advisor and President of…
David Sobey Centre Partners in Ebay Retail Revival Halifax
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s and The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services are participating in Retail Revival Halifax, an initiative from eBay Canada and the Halifax Regional Municipality. The free 12-month training program will help 70 local small and mid-sized retailers leverage eBay's global marketplace. Dr. Ramesh Venkat, Director of the David Sobey Centre, along with Dr. Rahman Khokhar…
Trip to the Gambia Uncovers Little-Known Chapter of Canadian War History
By Maroon & White |
Students preparing for a field school trip to The Gambia this past November discovered that 10 Canadian WWII airmen were buried in the Fajara War Cemetery. “It’s a piece of our history that had possibly been lost or at least not very well known until now,” said Dr. Cathy Conrad, a professor in Geography and Environmental Studies. The students laid wreaths on the graves during a Remembrance…
Sobey School Of Business MBA Ranked 8th in the World For Sustainability
By Maroon & White |
The Sobey School of Business was ranked eighth in the world for sustainability in the Corporate Knights Better World MBA ranking, released in November 2018. The school attributes its success to the way sustainable development and ethics are deeply embedded in its courses, the strong ethnic and gender diversity of its students and faculty, and the faculty’s extensive research on sustainability…
SMU Model UN Group Returns from New York with Two Awards
By Maroon & White |
A team of 20 Saint Mary’s students led by Dr. Marc Doucet, Chair of Political Science, shone at the National Model UN conference in New York this past March. They won a Distinguished Delegation Award for their work representing Kuwait, and students Yankun Li and Hannah Shuttleworth won an Outstanding Position Paper award for their pre-conference preparations for the Conference of the Parties to…
Dr. Vessey’s Agricultural Research Awarded $1.2M in Funding
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Kevin Vessey’s research into how poor-quality, marginal land can be used to produce biomass as a potential revenue stream for farmers received $1.2 million in federal and provincial funding. The Saint Mary’s Biology professor is leading a five-year project to determine what substances and organisms best promote plant growth and decrease production costs in a variety of plants. “The long-term…
Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
As we reflect on the past year, I am reminded of something I once heard: “The start of anything new brings the promise of something great”. This is exactly where we are now, in the midst of an exciting time at the University. Our researchers are advancing knowledge in areas as diverse as artificial intelligence, coastal zone management, and international migration; our students are leading initiatives…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
When you receive this issue of the magazine, Saint Mary’s will have welcomed another 1000 graduates into the Saint Mary’s alumni family. As your president, I have the honour of presenting pins and shaking the hands of our newest grads as they walk across the stage of the McNally Theatre Auditorium at convocation. In addition, many of our alumni volunteer to walk in the Honour Guard, donning…
Saint Mary’s Venture Grade Fund Invests in Trip Ninja
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University’s Venture Grade Fund, a student-raised and led venture capital fund, is making its first investment – $15,000 to Trip Ninja, an innovative travel start-up. Trip Ninja is a travel-planning software for use by online travel retailers such as Expedia or Priceline. This multi-destination platform finds the best way to book a trip, whether travellers are flexible in their…
Business Development Centre Relaunches
By Maroon & White |
A creative campaign featuring the business success of 12 alumni (such as Janet Chiang, BComm'05) and a venture showcase with 200 guests helped re-launch the Business Development Centre as the Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre last April. The new centre heralds an enhanced focus on entrepreneurial leadership. "We help thousands of businesses and graduates," says Michael Sanderson, Acting…
Square Roots Food Bundle Program Partners With Hellmann’s
By Maroon & White |
The award-winning Square Roots food-bundle program is partnering with Hellmann’s to help combat food insecurity across Nova Scotia. “For two years in a row, the Square Roots bundle program has won the Hellmann’s Food Security Challenge, which opened the door to this partnership,” said Becca Watts, Square Roots bundle program manager. “We are proud to announce that all future bundles will…
Inuit Cultural Repatriation Award For Saint Mary’s Researcher
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Val Marie Johnson’s collaborative work to repatriate copies of Inuit cultural and historical materials has being recognized with the 2018 Inuit Cultural Repatriation Award. The award, given by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, recognizes individuals and organizations that have taken steps to repatriate Inuit intellectual…
Top 50 CEOs Within Saint Mary's University Community
By Maroon & White |
The innovation, drive, and business leadership of several of our alumni were recently recognized by Atlantic Business Magazine. The following people received a Top 50 CEO Award: Joyce Carter, BComm’84; Stuart MacLean, EMBA’97; Darren Nantes, BComm’89; Carl Sparkes, MBA’87; and Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.
Mi’kmaq Grand Council Flag Permanently Installed At Saint Mary’s
By Maroon & White |
The Mi’kmaq Grand Council flag now has a permanent home on the Saint Mary’s campus, alongside the Canadian and provincial flags that fly in front of the McNally Building. “To see our flag side-by-side with the Canadian and Nova Scotian flags, nation to nation, is very significant to us,” said Grand Chief Ron Knockwood, District Chief of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council, Sɨkɨpne’katik District.…
SMU Doctoral Student Wins In National Policy Challenge
By Maroon & White |
Chris Walker, doctoral candidate in the International Development Studies Department at Saint Mary’s University, is one of 10 winners of a national foreign policy challenge. The Global Affairs Canada / SSHRC 2018 International Policy Ideas Challenge invites Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and researchers to propose solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced…
Creating New Coastal Habitat
By Maroon & White |
As a result of a $1.8 million partnership between the Government of Canada and Saint Mary’s, a new project seeks to restore over 75 hectares of tidal wetland (i.e., salt marsh) habitat in our province. The project, led by Dr. Danicka van Proosdij, will guide the realignment and decommissioning of dyke infrastructure at multiple sites in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia.
First Graduates From Unique, International Program
By Maroon & White |
This past summer, the first cohort of a unique program based on an international partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University-Zhuhai (BNUZ) walked across the stage to receive their degrees in China. The business students are the first to graduate from a program offered jointly by BNUZ and Saint Mary’s University. The successful partnership between the two institutions…
Saint Mary’s Hosts Ground-breaking Criminal Justice Conference
By Maroon & White |
More than 200 scholars, corrections workers, and social-justice experts from Canada and beyond came together for a fruitful exchange of ideas on harm reduction in the criminal justice system at Saint Mary’s this past summer. This year marked the first in which the conference will begin visiting communities across Canada, and also the first in which it substantially moves to holistically addressing…
An Evening with John Ralston Saul
By Maroon & White |
John Ralston Saul shared his insights into immigration and Atlantic Canada at Saint Mary’s University this past summer. Ralston Saul praised the centuries-long Canadian approach to welcoming newcomers, something he said is unique to this country and learned from Indigenous peoples. Ralston Saul noted that Canada now stands out among westernized nations for its pro-immigration policies and practices…
Saint Mary’s Professor Earns Esteemed Medal
By Maroon & White |
Subatomic physicist, Dr. Rituparna Kanungo, leads cutting-edge research on understanding the mysteries of existence. Where do we come from? What are we, and most visible matter in our universe, made of? To answer these questions, Kanungo examines the core of all things, the nucleus. By using very precise methods of generating reactions, she can closely examine rare isotopes in our universe to unlock…
SMU Astronomer Wins Astronomy Award
By Maroon & White |
“I simply love talking with people about science,” says Dr. Rob Thacker, Director of the Science Outreach Centre. An internationally recognized researcher, who is also an Astronomy and Physics professor, Dr. Thacker received the Canadian Astronomical Society’s 2018 Qilak Award in recognition of his outstanding outreach work. He shares his knowledge via dozens of public lectures and weekly…
Federal Funding for Saint Mary’s Biologists
By Maroon & White |
Two Saint Mary’s biologists have received funding to investigate how environmental variation influences fish populations in Atlantic Canada. This research should help predict how fish will fare with continued changes in climate. Drs. Laura Weir and Anne Dalziel are using their $200,000 John R. Evans Leaders Fund award from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to develop a Fish Behaviour…
Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
Crisp autumn air signals the start of a new academic year. During Welcome Weeks, this year’s 1600 incoming students – and future alumni – were welcomed into our community and introduced to both academic opportunities and the many support systems on campus.
The Santamarian Ceremony, held in September, reinforces the values of Saint Mary’s: academic excellence, our intentional approach…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
This is my last letter to you as President of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association. I’m not sure where those two years have gone, but it was a busy and rewarding experience to serve the loyal alumni of Saint Mary’s. Thank you for the honour.
In this issue, you will be introduced to alumni from all over, accomplishing amazing things. From former athletes who have gone on to successful…
Computing & Data Analytics Grads Part Of Award-Winning Halifax Startup
By Maroon & White |
HomeEXCEPT Inc., a Halifax startup that makes a security device for seniors, was the grand prize winner of the American Association of Retired Persons Innovation Champion Awards competition. The platform allows customers to monitor loved ones at home using thermal sensors that determine real-time patterns of movement without intrusive cameras or wearables. Recent graduates Akhilesh Kotiya MSc’18,…
Saint Mary’s Astronomer Part Of Canadian Collaboration
By Maroon & White |
Canadian astronomers are developing the Gemini InfraRed Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS), which will be capable of producing images of the sky in unprecedented detail. Working with Dr. Marcin Sawicki, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy, Saint Mary’s researchers and students will get a chance to participate in the construction of GIRMOS and then use it to study distant galaxies.
Dr. Rowland Marshall Prize In The Science Of New Energy Awarded
By Maroon & White |
Taylor Lynk, a fourth-year bachelor of science student, was the winner of the inaugural Dr. Rowland Marshall Prize in the Science of New Energy. Her winning paper explores a way to use green materials to synthesize nanomaterials in an environmentally benign way to allow for continued growth of the nanotechnology field.
Dr. Karly Kehoe Honoured By Royal Society Of Canada
By Maroon & White |
The Royal Society of Canada named Dr. Karly Kehoe, Saint Mary’s History professor and Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities, to its College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists.
Saint Mary’s Makes The Podium At International Competition
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s students ranked third among more than 60 competing teams at the prestigious 2017 McGill International Portfolio Challenge. This Challenge is the first international competition targeting innovative portfolio design and asset management.
Students Recognized With Inaugural Fred And Nali George Scholarships
By Maroon & White |
Sharing in the University’s commitment to global awareness and social responsibility, Dr. Fred and Nali George set up two scholarships: The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship and The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies. Fourth-year students Jake Arsenault (BComm’17) and Mariah Williams (BA’17) were the inaugural recipients.
Saint Mary’s Chemist Wins Award Of Distinction
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Jason Clyburne, professor in the departments of Chemistry and Environmental Science, is recognized as a leader in the study of green chemistry, particularly in the field of ionic liquids and nucleophilic carbenes. He was named the winner of the 2017 Professional of Distinction Award at the Discovery Centre’s 15th Annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology. Dr. Clyburne is the first…
Dr. Linda Campbell Receives NS Human Rights Award
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s environmental scientist Dr. Linda Campbell, and fellow members of the Bill 59 Community Alliance, received a 2017 Nova Scotia Human Rights Award in recognition of their contributions to the Accessibility Act. Presented annually by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Awards acknowledge the work of Nova Scotians who advance human rights at the community level.
Saint Mary's President Named Chair-Designate Of CBIE
By Maroon & White |
President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray has been named chair-designate of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) board of directors. CBIE, a global leader in international education dedicated to equity, quality, inclusiveness, and partnership, advances Canadian international education by creating and mobilizing expertise, opportunity, and leadership.
Halifax Business Awards for SMU Alumni
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s is celebrating the success of alumni who were honoured at the 2018 Halifax Business Awards. It was a proud night for Christopher Webb BA’97 and Dave O’Connor BComm’92. Webb’s PAVIA Gallery Espresso Bar & Café won the Gold Award for Business of the Year, and O’Connor, president of Glow - The Event Store, received the Gold Award for Business Leader of the Year.
Saint Mary’s Researcher Appointed To NSERC And NSERC Funding
By Maroon & White |
Biology professor Dr. Kevin Vessey has been appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s governing council. While working with the federal agency, Vessey will focus on the role university research has in fostering innovation in communities across the country. In addition, eight Saint Mary’s researchers received $1.3 million in funding from NSERC.
Canadian Students Attend Saint Mary’s Business Development Conference
By Maroon & White |
Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, helped welcome more than 180 future business owners to the Starting Point Entrepreneurship Conference. University and high school students from across Canada met at Saint Mary’s and had the opportunity to bring their business ideas to current entrepreneurs for advice.
Scott Brison Holds Campus Town Hall
By Maroon & White |
Member of Parliament Scott Brison, president of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, visited campus the day after the 2018 federal budget was released. He hosted a town hall with students, faculty, and staff, and answered questions about the federal government’s role in promoting gender equality, immigration, research, and economic success.
Faculty of Arts Welcomes Chinese Students
By Maroon & White |
The Saint Mary’s Faculty of Arts is the first in Canada to welcome a cohort of students from China. For the next two years, Halifax will be the home-away-from-home for 37 learners from Beijing Normal University - Zhuhai, who are completing the final two years of their undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s.
Saint Mary’s Wins Provincial Open Data Challenge
By Maroon & White |
For the second year in a row, Saint Mary’s University Master of Science in Computing & Data Analytics students won the top prize at Nova Scotia’s Provincial Open Data Challenge. Using provincial immigration and population data, the team developed an app that immigrants can use to connect with local contacts.
Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
Anational leader in business education, Saint Mary’s fosters creative and entrepreneurial mindsets within our learners. I’m delighted to tell you that the Province of Nova Scotia recently announced an investment of $11 million in a new campus facility called the Entrepreneurship, Discovery and Innovation (EDI) Hub. It will bring together students and professors from all of the University’s…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
To the hundreds of students who graduated in May, welcome to the Saint Mary’s alumni family; it’s a global community of over 51,000 alumni.
As I write this, snow is still blanketing the grass in Halifax. Nevertheless, we trust the white stuff will be melted by summer. If you haven’t already, please register for the 42nd Annual SMU Alumni Golf Tournament. It’s taking place August…
Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
This September, Saint Mary’s welcomed new and returning students, from around the corner and around the globe, eager to learn, searching for meaning, and keen to give back to the wider community and world. We gathered together in our Santamarian ceremony to witness our shared commitment to discovery and innovation, academic integrity, and intercultural learning. I took this opportunity to speak…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
As my first year serving as President of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association wraps up, I have a lot of great experiences to look back on. This summer we held our Annual Alumni Golf Tournament at Granite Springs on August 17th. This sold out event hosted 132 golfers and funded 21 deserving students with bursaries.
I was grateful to be a part of Welcome Week on campus the first week of…
Researcher Fights Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria With New Funding
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s chemical biologist Dr. Clarissa Sit’s research into how to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi received a big boost this August as the result of an investment of $171,204 from the federal government. As a result of this funding, Dr. Sit will have access to a high-resolution mass spectrometer, equipment that will increase the success rate of finding new molecules in soil…
SMU Alumnus Becomes Canadian Citizen On Canada 150
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s engineering alumnus Stephen Robinson-Enebeli will always remember where he was on Canada’s 150th birthday: surrounded by friends and family, in the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, becoming a Canadian citizen. “The room was overflowing,” he recalls. “I was so moved by the number of people who came in solidarity to welcome new Canadians, and to welcome me.” Stephen…
Remembering Gerry Beech (1947 – 2015)
By Maroon & White |
Students at Saint Mary’s will benefit from a fund set up to honour the late Gerry Beech (BA’68), a proud Saint Mary’s alumnus who graduated with a degree in Political Science. Beech worked for several years as Director of Student Services at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design before moving to Ontario in the mid-70s for a career in provincial politics. With the help of Dr. Marc Doucet,…
PhD Candidate Wins Prestigious Vanier Scholarship
By Maroon & White |
Amy Heim, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Science, is the recent recipient of a three-year Vanier scholarship worth $50,000 per year. Heim’s work is in the area of Evolution and Ecology, and she was honoured for her research proposal titled: Using traits to enhance plant co-existence and maximize ecosystem services in the green roof environment. A plant community ecologist who specializes in understanding…
Saint Mary’s Hosts Halifax For The Solar Eclipse
By Maroon & White |
Hundreds of visitors from across Halifax flocked to Saint Mary’s University campus to safely enjoy the partial solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. PhD in Astronomy candidate Mitchell Young spearheaded the public viewing event, which provided an opportunity for members of the university community and the public to safely view the partial eclipse through the lens of a telescope or safety glasses. Visitors…
Chemistry Grad Awarded Prestigious Postgraduate Scholarship
By Maroon & White |
Recent Saint Mary’s graduate Kyle Awalt is headed down under to pursue a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Monash in Melbourne, Australia. Kyle, who graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Chemistry, received a Monash Graduate Scholarship and Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, two highly competitive awards worth roughly $70,000 a year. Since…
Inuit Leaders Graduate with Sobey School Advanced Management Diploma
By Maroon & White |
This summer in Iqaluit, 13 students graduated from the Advanced Management Diploma program. The 10-month program is offered by the Sobey School of Business, in partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI), a land claims organization. NTI's mandate is "Inuit Economic, Social and Cultural Well-being Through Implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement." The partnership was established as part…
High Commissioner of India Visits Saint Mary’s
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s international reach is well known and often results in amazing opportunities for the University and its students. This past June, his Excellency Vikas Swarup, High Commissioner of India (HCI), and the author of the novel Q&A, (later made into the film Slumdog Millionaire) dropped by Saint Mary’s to meet with President Robert Summerby-Murray. He also took the time to talk with some…
Recognizing Teaching Excellence And Leadership
By Maroon & White |
Earlier this year, Dr. Kathy Singfield and Dr. Marc Doucet were recognized for educational leadership and teaching excellence. Dr. Singfield, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Associate Dean - Curriculum and Operations, was awarded the Dr. Geraldine Thomas Educational Leadership Award. Dr. Doucet, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department, was awarded the…
Making Nova Scotia More Accessible
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University professor Dr. Linda Campbell and the Bill 59 Community Alliance were recently honoured with the Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Award for their contributions to Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act. Dr. Campbell and the grassroots disability group worked diligently for two years to improve Bill 59, also known as the Accessibility Act. Their hard work was recognized by the Partnership…
Once-In-A-Lifetime Archaeological Expedition To Cuba
By Maroon & White |
This past summer, 12 Atlantic Canadian university students embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime archaeological expedition in Cuba, spearheaded by Saint Mary’s University’s Department of Anthropology. From June 1 to 17, the students excavated artifacts at Cuba’s historic Angerona Coffee Plantation, a former slave plantation near Havana. The dig—to possibly discover something about the lives of the…
Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University
By Maroon & White |
I am delighted to welcome you to the latest edition of Maroon & White.
It is a pleasure to lead an organization as vibrant as Saint Mary’s University. Our Strategic Plan (2016-21) strengthens our vision ‘to be the university of choice for aspiring citizens of the world’ and our mission to offer academic programs and engage in research that serve both local and international communities.…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
I am excited and proud to serve as the new President of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association. Since the Fall of 2016, I have been privileged to meet many alumni from across the globe and to engage with faculty, staff, and students within the University. This experience has been immensely rewarding.
In February, we officially welcomed our new VP Advancement, Erin Sargeant Greenwood, to…
Celebrating Indigenous Culture
By Maroon & White |
Fry bread tacos were a big hit at the inaugural Mawio'mi Indigenous Gathering, a new addition to Saint Mary’s University’s Winter Welcome. The first in a series of events to celebrate Indigenous culture, it was organized by the Saint Mary’s Indigenous Students Society Co-Presidents Elora Gehue and Boyce Campbell, and Student Services Senior Director Tom Brophy. Festivities included greetings…
The Return of a Treasure
By Maroon & White |
Remnants of an old gateway were all that remained of the Belgian Abbey of Salzinnes until 1998, when alumna Judy Dietz (BA’84, MA’06) discovered a 450-year old illuminated manuscript in Saint Mary’s University’s Rare Books collection. A hand-scribed choir book containing 240 parchment folios with music and text, the Salzinnes Antiphonal was likely brought to Nova Scotia in the mid-1800’s…
Helping Communities Move Forward
By Maroon & White |
Thanks to a $1.1 million investment from the Federal Government, Saint Mary’s is now the headquarters for the Change Lab Action Research Initiative (CLARI), a post-secondary education partnership offering a network of academic experts, research resources, collaboration spaces, and communications technology. “The Change Lab Action Research Initiative is a great example of the kind of collaboration…
A Reputation for Research
By Maroon & White |
The exceptional research carried out by Saint Mary’s faculty and students is receiving lots of social media praise by those who attended the Research Expo in March. In related news, Saint Mary's University has shot up in the rankings of the well-regarded Research Universities of the Year (RUY) report by Toronto-based consultants Research Infosource. Their 2016 report, released in October, shows…
Recognizing Community Service
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s friend and alumna, Marsha Sobey (BEd’82), was quick to share the credit when receiving an Alumni Association Distinguished Community Service Award for the profound impact she has had on Saint Mary’s University, Landmark East School, the Children’s Wish Foundation, and the IWK Health Centre. “It’s a real honour to receive this award,” she said, speaking at last fall’s…
Two Nights and Two Sites for Cyril Byrne Memorial Lecture
By Maroon & White |
The annual Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture took on a new dimension this year, with hundreds of Haligonians taking part in a special two-night celebration featuring Booker Prize-winning novelist Yann Martel. The author of Life of Pi, Beatrice & Virgil, and the new novel The High Mountains of Portugal, Martel filled the Halifax Central Library’s Paul O’Regan Hall to capacity on March 23, for a…
A Starring Role for Saint Mary’s Computational Astrophysics Prof
By Maroon & White |
Looking for a scientifically approved dose of fun? Look no further than Dr. Rob Thacker’s weekly science column as part of CBC Radio 1 Mainstreet in Halifax. Dr. Thacker is a Professor and Tier II Canada Research Chair in the department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s, and the Acting Director of the Institute for Computational Astrophysics (ICA). His focus for the new radio gig is computing,…
Chemistry Profs Named Canada Research Chairs
By Maroon & White |
Halifax MP Andy Fillmore visited Saint Mary’s in December 2016 to announce two new Canada Research Chairs. Dr. Christa Brosseau, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, is the new Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Chemistry and Materials; and Dr. Todd Ventura, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, is the Canada Research Chair in Petroleum Systems,…
A Winning Business School
By Maroon & White |
Sobey School of Business student Ana Paula Mercado Farell was thrilled to be part of the winning team for the first Retail Concept Competition, organized in March by the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services. She was doubly pleased to receive an innovation award, courtesy of retail futurist Doug Stephens, a member of the advisory board for the David Sobey Centre.
Sobey…
Another Successful Starting Point
By Maroon & White |
Almost 150 student entrepreneurs from post-secondary institutions and high schools across the country came together at Saint Mary’s in February 2017 to share best practices and learn from national business leaders at the third annual Starting Point Student Entrepreneurship Conference. With a focus on fostering innovation and encouraging students to think big, Starting Point 2017 featured master classes,…
Impact With Purpose
By Maroon & White |
Business and government leaders, entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and staff gathered in Halifax last fall to celebrate the release of a report re ecting the Sobey School of Business’ economic, social, and intellectual impact on the province of Nova Scotia.
Applying the Business School Impact System (BSIS), developed by the Brussels-based European Foundation for Management Development…
Federal Funding For Sobey Program
By Maroon & White |
Halifax MP Andy Fillmore was back on campus on March 2nd to announce more than $480,000 in funding from the Government of Canada for OPtions (Overcoming Poverty) Youth, a program ordered by the Sobey School Business Development Centre and Saint Mary’s University’s Enactus team. The program helps at-risk youth develop employability skills through mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and on-the-job…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By SMU Alumni |
As my two-year term as Alumni President comes to a close, I am reminded of what a wonderful family we have at Saint Mary’s. It was a privilege to have represented over 44,000 Alumni who are in the four corners of the globe. Our university is a vibrant and world-class institution. We should all take great pride in it. I am amazed by the variety of programs that are offered and by the exceptional…
A Tree Grows at Saint Mary’s
By Suzanne Robicheau |
One of the most recently planted trees on Saint Mary’s campus celebrates a long-standing relationship with Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai (BNUZ). Faculty members and administrators from BNUZ marked the completion of a 14-day summer institute at Saint Mary’s by planting a Seven Sons Flower Tree. A fragrant member of the Honeysuckle family, this rare tree was once threatened, but is now subject…
Twitter Praise
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Heralded as the world’s first Twitter-controlled telescope, the Dr. Ralph Medjuck Telescope in Saint Mary’s Burke-Gaffney Observatory made the cut when Twitter celebrated its 10th birthday by highlighting the top ten unique uses of the social media platform for 2016.
Many observatories use Twitter as a way to reach out
to the public, but it’s generally humans on a keyboard…
Making Healthcare Healthier
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Looking for a graduate program that prepares students to tackle key issues in health policy research, delivery, and administration? Look to Saint Mary’s new Master of Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) program, now accepting its first students. Funded by the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation in partnership with the Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit, the MAHSR program is offered in collaboration…
Strengthening Global Connections
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Both Saint Mary’s University and the Province of Nova Scotia will benefit from a recent gift of $1 million from David Wang, the manager of a Nova Scotia curriculum high school in China and a very good friend of Saint Mary’s. The David Wang Scholarship Fund will support eight prestigious scholarships of $20,000 per year. What makes these scholarships unique is that they are awarded to Chinese…
Buried Treasure
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Thanks to a geophysical survey, Saint Mary’s researchers are one step closer to solving a more than 250-year old mystery. In the continuation of an investigation begun by Saint Mary’s professor Jonathan Fowler, a team of Anthropology students led by adjunct professor, Dr. Eric Henry, has uncovered evidence of the long-buried remains of a star-shaped fort near Nova Scotia’s historic Lunenburg Academy.…
Pulling Together for the Greater Good
By Suzanne Robicheau |
For the fourth year in a row, the Saint Mary’s Enactus team competed against teams from more than 60 Canadian universities to place in the top four in Canada at the National Enactus Exposition. The Saint Mary’s team also shone as second runner up in the Scotiabank Eco-Living Challenge for an environmental project that diverted almost 2400 lbs. of waste from landfills by upcycling material for…
Women’s Rugby Moves
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Two stellar contributors to Saint Mary’s women’s rugby are switching roles this year. Assistant coach, Amber Davison, takes over responsibilities as head coach and former head coach, Megan Kinsman, assumes the role of assistant coach. Davison played with the Acadia Axewomen for five years and was a member of Team Atlantic. She continues to play with the Nova Scotia Senior Women’s Keltics.…
Inspiring Competition
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Thanks to the generosity of Saint Mary’s alumni Mike and Catherine Durland, three teams from our Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) program each received a prize of $20,000 in the 2nd annual Durland Innovation Fund Competition. The winning projects were ProTell, a wearable technology designed to help those who suffer from sickle cell anemia; SWAP, a security technology…
Mirroring the United Nations
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Saint Mary’s University’s Model UN delegation, headed by Political Science Chair, Dr. Marc Doucet, was one of only four delegations from Canadian universities to be awarded a Distinguished Delegation Award at the 2016 National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference. The Saint Mary’s team competed against 5,500 students from more than 400 schools, debating, negotiating, and drafting resolutions…
Distinguished Teaching Award
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Saint Mary’s psychology professor Dr. Maryanne Fisher continues to be honoured and acknowledged for her teaching excellence. Dr. Fisher was recently awarded a 2016 Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) Distinguished Teaching Award. This annual award recognizes excellence in teaching and educational leadership. Since joining the Saint Mary’s Department of Psychology in 2004, Dr. Fisher has…
Making an Impact
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Two programs offered by the Sobey School Business Development Centre —Options and The Spark Zone—took “Best in North America” at the Global Best Awards, sponsored by the Conference Board of Canada and the International Partnership Network. A previous Global Best Awards winner, Options has successfully helped more than 300 marginalized-youth transition into jobs and further education through…
Prize Winning Author Picks Prize Winning Author
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Judging the Giller Prize is no easy feat—even for 2010 Giller finalist Dr. Alexander MacLeod, a prize-winning author and Saint Mary’s professor of English and Atlantic Canada Studies. As part of his duties as a juror for the 2015 Giller Prize, Dr. MacLeod read 168 works of Canadian fiction in seven months. He also had countless Skypes, conference calls, and meetings with fellow jurors, before…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By SMU Alumni |
During the last six months Saint Mary’s has celebrated many academic and athletic achievements. Our Burke-Gaffney Observatory has received accolades for taking space image requests from Twitter users and tweeting back pictures. Dr. Luigi Gallo, an Astronomy and Physics professor, has had a part in the Japanese launch of ASTRO-H, checking out black holes. And our Enactus Team continues to represent…
Triple Bronze Wins
By Suzanne Robicheau |
In athletics news, Saint Mary’s snagged three bronze medals at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships in March. The Saint Mary's Women's Hockey Huskies made history for their program by claiming their first ever bronze medal after defeating the No. 1 Guelph Gryphons 3-1 in the bronze medal game of the CIS Women's Hockey Championships on Sunday, March 20th.
The Saint Mary’s…
Forging Intercultural Connections
By Suzanne Robicheau |
As Syrian refugees continue to arrive in Nova Scotia, our Language Centre has stepped up to smooth their transition by offering beginners’ courses in Arabic for members of the campus community as well as the general public.
“Even being able to say hello in someone else’s language can help put them at ease in a difficult situation,” says Zak McLaren, Director of the Language Centre.…
Levelling the Learning Field
By Suzanne Robicheau |
A $2 million gift from the Joyce Foundation in December 2015 will create a legacy of support for students with disabilities and keep Saint Mary’s affordable for all deserving students. A significant portion of this transformative gift is designated for students registered with the Fred Smithers Centre of Support for Students with Disabilities. The remainder goes to support economically disadvantaged…
Connecting Rural Communities
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Rural communities seeking help solving complex social problems like outmigration and unemployment need to look no further than the Change Lab Action Research Institute (CLARI), soon to be up and running in Saint Mary’s University’s Atrium. The CLARI hub was conceived as a way to drive economic development by connecting rural communities and small business with a network of experts and researchers…
Sharing the Wealth
By Suzanne Robicheau |
The non-profit landscape shifted at Saint Mary’s University’s One World Alumni Awards Gala during Homecoming 2015 with a remarkable display of giving by Brigadoon, a non-profit camp facility for children, youth, and families living with a chronic illness, chronic conditions, or special needs. When called upon to receive the top award of $10,000, Brigadoon’s founder David McKeage BComm’91…
Scoring a New Football Coach
By Suzanne Robicheau |
As a collegiate football player and coach, James Colzie III accrued a wealth of experience by taking part in two national championships, six conference titles, and 12 bowl games. As the new head coach of the Saint Mary’s Huskies football program, he’ll put that experience to good use bringing Huskies football back to prominence in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport).
Colzie…
Sharing an Evening with Parliament’s Poet Laureate
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Those who attended Saint Mary’s 2016 Cyril Byrne Lecture in March had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear Canada’s newly installed Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Dr. George Elliott Clarke, read from his earliest works.
A talented poet, playwright, and literary critic, Dr. Clarke is an officer of the Order of Nova Scotia and the Order of Canada. He has also received the National…
A Clean Sweep for Saint Mary’s Enactus Team
By Suzanne Robicheau |
“There’s a first time for everything!” That was the reaction of Enactus Saint Mary’s co-president Ali Algermozi on Friday, February 26, when the Enactus Saint Mary’s team made history, going up against 13 Enactus groups from universities in Atlantic Canada to bring home five big wins: first place trophies in all four categories at the Enactus Regional Competition, plus the Woman Leader…
Taking the Stress from the Test
By Suzanne Robicheau |
A collaboration between Saint Mary’s University and Halifax Public Libraries will make the Candian citizenship test far less intimidating for a small group of immigrants.
“The test is tough even for those born in Canada,” says Saint Mary’s alumnus Jonathan Shaw. “Imagine how difficult it is for someone who speaks English as a new and second language.”
As part…
A Gift That Will Grow the Economy
By Suzanne Robicheau |
The Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) program at the Sobey School of Business received some exciting news in October 2015. Alumnus Mike Durland (BComm ’87) announced two gifts totalling $1.5 million. One from Scotiabank – where at the time, Durland was CEO, Global Banking and Markets – and one from Mike and his wife Catherine, also a Saint Mary’s graduate (BComm…
A Stellar Event
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Thanks to an endowed gift from the family of the late Dan Alexander MacLennan, more than 300 astronomers and stargazers crowded into the McNally Theatre Auditorium on October 17th. They were there to hear award-winning astronomer Alex Filippenko share his insights on exploding stars and the expanding universe.
“We were very excited to host the inaugural Dan MacLennan Lecture,”…
Another Star on the Horizon
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Saint Mary's University’s Department of Astronomy and Physics is excited to announce that Nobel Laureate Arthur B. McDonald will be the guest speaker for the second annual Dan MacLennan Lecture on Friday October 21, 2016.
Arthur McDonald, a professor emeritus at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics with Takaaki Kajita of the University…
A Home Away from Home for Indigenous Students
By Suzanne Robicheau |
At a dedication ceremony in early February, Mi’kmaw elder, author, and Saint Mary’s alumnus Dr. Isabelle Knockwood (BA’92; DCL’13) helped the University celebrate the opening of our new Indigenous Student Space. According to Elora Gehue, President of Saint Mary’s Aboriginal Society, this dedicated on-campus location for indigenous students to meet, work, share, and collaborate is “a…
Protecting Wildlife with Fuzzy Forensics
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Dr. Lindsay Carmichael was too excited to write even 140 characters after an awards dinner in the fall of 2015 to announce the winners of last year’s Lane Anderson Award. Her author friends, on the other hand, lost no time tweeting that Carmichael’s book Fuzzy Forensics: DNA Fingerprinting Gets Wild had been named the best science book in Canada in the young readers’ category.
In…
Letter from the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
Summer is now but a fleeting memory. The 39th annual Saint Mary’s University Alumni Golf Tournament at Granite Springs, held on August 20, was a great success. It raised sufficient money to fund 20 student bursaries. Mark August 18, 2016 for our 40th tournament and join us for a wonderful day. Also in August, thanks to assistance of the Alumni Office, the Financial Aid Office and faculty/staff…
The Language of Discovery
By Suzanne Robicheau |
At first glance, it appears that Amberlin Hines is assessing the fare at a seafood buffet. On closer inspection, there’s more to Hines—and to the mussel she’s holding—than meets the eye.
“Amberlin is a student from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, a liberal arts university for the deaf,” says Dr. Linda Campbell, an environmental scientist at Saint Mary’s University.…
Celebrating Citizens of the World
By Suzanne Robicheau |
An August reception at Saint Mary’s concluded a four-week study program for students from Beijing Normal University (BNU) in China. The 27 Chinese students, nine from BNU’s Beijing campus and 18 from the Zhuhai campus, were participants in the Cross-Cultural Communications: North American Studies program jointly hosted by Saint Mary’s and Acadia University. “I applaud you for also taking…
Healthy Workplace, Healthy Business
By Suzanne Robicheau |
The Nova Scotia business and research communities came together at the Sobey School of Business to recognize the accomplishments of Nova Scotian employers in promoting and maintaining supportive and healthy workplaces. Held in August during the annual Occupational Health Psychology Summer Institute hosted by Saint Mary’s CN Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the Fifth Nova Scotia Psychologically…
Team SMU Science Steps Up
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Team SMU Science battled rain—and nerves—to successfully rappel down Halifax’s 13-storey Westin Hotel on June 13 in support of Rope for Hope, an annual fundraiser for Make-a-Wish Atlantic Provinces. In stepping up to step over the edge of a roof, Science team members raised over $4,000 through a combination of pre-event fundraisers and generous donations from students, staff, and alumni. One…
A Stirring Finale for Time for Tea
By Suzanne Robicheau |
On Sunday, June 21, Saint Mary’s light-filled Atrium made a pleasant venue for the University’s final Time for Tea, a sumptuous English tea party in support of bursaries for single parents who attend Saint Mary’s University. The Duchess of Bedford may have introduced afternoon tea in the 19th century, but Saint Mary’s has perfected it over the past 15 years. With Carol Dodds’ MA’95,…
Focus On Health Research to Benefit Saint Mary’s
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Evidence-based, responsive, patient-centred, and timely: these are just a few of the words used to describe the Maritime Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT
Unit (MSSU), based at Saint Mary’s. It’s an initiative expected to improve patient care by making it easier for researchers across the country to work together and share data. “It’s a huge opportunity to have a unit…
Notes from the Underground
By Suzanne Robicheau |
A five-day field school in Northern Ontario took 12 Saint Mary’s geology students almost three kilometres underground. After touring diamond drill core logging facilities with Vale Canada, students visited an ore smelter and a nickel refinery. They also took part in a surface excursion of the Sudbury Basin, the second-largest known impact crater on Earth. "Seeing mineral deposits and mining operations…
New Support for Aboriginal Students
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Building on a long track record of engaging with the Aboriginal community throughout the Atlantic Region, Saint Mary’s University called for the creation of an Aboriginal Students Task Force and commissioned a report to advance support for Aboriginal students. Published in May 2015, this report provides a framework through which stakeholders from the Aboriginal community and the University can…
Major Funding for Sobey School Business Development Centre
By Suzanne Robicheau |
The Sobey School Business Development Centre (SSBDC) received almost $900,000 in federal funding through the Youth Employment Strategy and ACOA’s Business Development Program. The lion’s share—more than $620,000—went to Work Smarts for paid internships designed to help recent post-secondary graduates throughout Atlantic Canada. An additional $275,000 will help the SSBDC provide business…
A Fine Balance
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Lt. Sarah Gray works hard to balance her academic responsibilities as a criminology major with her training obligations as a reservist in the Canadian Forces, but the 4th year student is quick to admit that she couldn’t do it without the support she receives from Saint Mary’s. Thanks to a nomination from
Lt. Gray, the Faculty of Arts received a Canadian Forces Liaison Council Provincial…
Paying it Forward Pays Off
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Well-known regionally for enabling social, environmental and economic progress through entrepreneurial action, the Saint Mary’s Enactus team emerged from the Enactus National Competition in Toronto in May 2015 ranked second in the entire country. Saint Mary’s also took the national title in the BDC Entrepreneurs First Project Partnership Best Project for The Startup 100, a community development…
From the President of the Alumni Association
By Maroon & White |
Being President of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association since October 2014 has given me many opportunities to interact with fellow alumni, faculty and especially with the students. It is a great pleasure to spend time with our future leaders. I attend as many events as I am able.
Last September I was assisting our Alumni Office with Welcome Week for new students and I saw a familiar face.…
Latest SMU Telescope Linked to Social Media
By Renée Hartleib |
The Burke-Gaffney Observatory unveiled a very special telescope last fall. The Planewave 0.6-metre CDK24 telescope is the second-largest telescope on a Canadian university campus, and the first in the world to be synced via software to social media. This allows it to be monitored and controlled by Facebook and Twitter users worldwide. Named in honour of its major benefactors, Dr. Ralph M. Medjuck…
Top Marks in Canada
By Renée Hartleib |
Saint Mary’s University has been ranked first in Canada for international research collaboration. This special recognition is a part of Research Infosource’s annual rankings on university research. “It is wonderful that the magnitude of international research collaborations at Saint Mary’s has been recognized by Research Infosource,” says Dr. Kevin Vessey, Saint Mary’s Associate Vice-President,…
President-Elect Announced
By Renée Hartleib |
In February, after an international search, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray was chosen as Saint Mary’s University President-Elect. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Summerby-Murray has been in Canada since the 1980s, when he received his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Toronto. He has served in a number of senior academic roles, including as Dean of Social Sciences at Mount Allison University…
SMU Hosts Award-winning Author Emma Donoghue
By Renée Hartleib |
On March 13, Canadian writer Emma Donoghue delivered this year’s Cyril Byrne Memorial Lecture. The annual lecture celebrates the life and spirit of Cyril Byrne, who during his 35-year career as an English professor at SMU, helped establish the school’s Atlantic Canada studies program and the D’Arcy McGee Chair of Irish Studies. Donoghue is an Irish-born writer whose work has been translated…
New Chancellor
By Renée Hartleib |
Dr. Paul D. Sobey is following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. David F. Sobey, who served as Saint Mary’s Chancellor from 2008 until 2010. Born in Halifax, but raised in New Glasgow, Dr. Paul D. Sobey, FCA, B.Comm, D.Comm, worked through various positions in Empire and its subsidiaries, assuming the role of Vice-President and Secretary in 1985, and President and CEO of Sobey Leased Properties…
A Win-Win Situation
By Renée Hartleib |
International students studying in Halifax now have expanded opportunities to enter the work force and stay in Nova Scotia. A new program, launched in February with help from the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association Atlantic Section, offers international students at the Sobey School of Business valuable work experience through a paid internship program with the Halifax Port Authority. This new…
The Buzz about BNUZ
By Renée Hartleib |
Saint Mary’s has a long relationship with China’s Beijing Normal University – Zhuhai (BNUZ). Since 2002, hundreds of students from BNUZ have attended Saint Mary’s, with SMU students also able to access a study-abroad program at BNUZ. In February, a new partnership was announced with SMU’s Faculty of Arts. This latest development between the two universities is a credit-transfer agreement.…
On the Cutting Edge
By Renée Hartleib |
The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services was launched in style on March 10 at an invite-only event attended by over 150 Canadian business luminaries. David Sobey, for whom the new Centre is named, was recognized through remarks from master of ceremonies, Dean Patricia Bradshaw. “The launch of this Centre honours the region’s tradition of business excellence in the retail…
Fostering the Future
By Renée Hartleib |
Combine 100 high school or post-secondary students with an interest in entrepreneurship, a handful of keen mentors, and 50 Nova Scotian communities. What have you got? Startup 100, a unique partnership between the Province of Nova Scotia, the Sobey School Business Development Centre, and Enactus Saint Mary’s. The program began February 20, and will continue for 100 days with a two-fold goal: foster…
Improved Supports for Students with Disabilities
By Renée Hartleib |
For 30 years, Saint Mary’s has played a leadership role in ensuring that higher education is accessible to students with disabilities. Back in 1985, when the Atlantic Centre was first established, it began by helping 13 students. That number has grown to over 200 students today. A passionate supporter of services for students with disabilities, and a former member of the University’s Board of…
Establishing a Community of Responsibility
By Suzanne Robicheau |
It isn’t easy to take a stand against sexualized violence—even for a self-described “big guy” like Amali Armony, President-Elect of Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA). Thanks to training received through an innovative program called Bringing in the Bystander, Armony and other members of the Saint Mary’s community are now poised to speak up and step in.
“This…
Licence to Innovate
By Chris Benjamin |
Sobey School of Business students devised improved agricultural methods, a financial literacy program for inmates, public-use cell phone-charging stations, and a social media platform for Chinese ex-pats, and they took home four of six BOYNECLARKE Innovative Ideas Awards on February 23 at the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. They swept the social innovation category, winning all three awards in that…
Blazing Trails
By Maroon & White |
Matching funding from the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust (NSRIT) added to financial support already received from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for almost half a million dollars for research being conducted by two Saint Mary’s professors, Dr. Aldona Wiacek and Dr. Jacob Hanley. For Environmental Science professor Wiacek, this makes it possible to purchase a ground-based,…
Top Picks for Future Leaders
By Maroon & White |
Six of the high-performing, emerging leaders chosen by 21inc for the prestigious 21Leaders program have close connections to Saint Mary’s. Prevailing against 628 candidates in the Maritime provinces to take 6 of the 54 coveted spots in a 10-month mentorship program are:
Steven Binder: Sobey School of Business student, and Small Business Advisor, Scotiabank
Kareem O’Keiffe…
Growing a Global Mindset
By Maroon & White |
Plans for a ground-breaking, dual degree program came to life on July 7 with the arrival of a visiting delegation from China’s Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai (BNUZ). A long-standing relationship between Saint Mary’s and BNUZ, and more than a decade of collaboration, have paved the way for the Sobey School of Business and BNUZ to jointly offer a Bachelor of Commerce degree program in Zhuhai.…
A New Way to Say Welcome
By Maroon & White |
For new and returning students, the university’s redesigned Welcome Week offered a variety of fun-filled activities that reflect Saint Mary’s values and culture. Galvanized by the events of last fall, Saint Mary’s has made a commitment to prevent sexual violence and promote a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning and working environment. To this end, the university is developing on-line…
Protecting Our Coastal Communities
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Tony Charles received $83,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for OceanCanada Partnership, a six-year research collaboration that includes 15 Canadian universities, non-governmental organizations, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The new funding will help Dr. Charles and his colleagues examine social, economic and environmental…
Letter from the Alumni President
By Maroon & White |
I am honoured to be taking on the role of President of Saint Mary’s Alumni Association. It gives me great pleasure to represent roughly 42,000 alumni from more than 100 countries all over the world.
I have a long, proud history with Saint Mary’s that began in 1968—the year Saint Mary’s went co-ed. I also come from a Saint Mary’s family. My father worked at Saint Mary’s. He…
Immigration Starts Here
By Maroon & White |
In an August press release, Premier Stephen McNeil announced that Saint Mary’s President Dr. J. Colin Dodds will be joint chair of the Premier’s Immigration Advisory Council.
Dr. Dodds will serve as international chair, with Saint Mary’s honourary degree recipient Wadih Fares DComm’09 as national chair. “We need to be strategic in our attraction efforts because Nova Scotia…
What Dreams May Come
By Suzanne Robicheau |
Bonnie Brooks believes in magic.
“If you can dream it, you can do it,” says the Vice-Chairman and self-described Chief Adventurer of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
During the spring of 2014, Brooks had two opportunities to offer that personal wisdom to the Saint Mary’s University community: during her induction into the University’s Turning Points Hall of Leadership, and…
Giving Back and Paying Forward
By Maroon & White |
“The Thomas J. and Donald P. Keleher Memorial Scholarship helped me purchase books and pay for tuition. It also allowed me to devote more time to my studies and excel in my classes. My family and I are so thankful for this award and very grateful to the Keleher family for their generosity.”
—Julia Purcell (2013-14 recipient)
An…
Making a difference
By Maroon & White |
Donnie Keleher DipEng’69, BSc’70 loved Saint Mary’s, so when the university’s former Director of Development passed away in May 2014, his family asked Saint Mary’s to add his name to the endowed scholarship fund already established by Donnie’s late father, Thomas J. Keleher (1918 to 1992).
“Donnie was instrumental in setting up Dad’s endowment fund and we…
Celebrating a life lived out loud
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Kevin Bonnycastle was all about possibilities, so it seemed a fitting memorial when colleagues in Saint Mary’s Sociology and Criminology department decided to mark her untimely passing with a student award. For Saint Mary’s alumnus Lawrence Buhagiar, making annual gifts to support this award was a dual opportunity to honour a very good friend and at the same time make a lasting difference…
Kudos
By Maroon & White |
The Saint Mary’s University community was pleased to see Carol Dodds MEd’90, MA’95 honoured as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year at the 2014 Maritime Philanthropy Awards Dinner in May. In addition to her many other volunteer and fundraising interests, Mrs. Dodds is the driving force behind Time for Tea, an annual English tea
party that began 14 years ago and has since…
Welcome Additions
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s alumnus Kevin Downie, a part-time faculty member at Sobey School of Business, and a lawyer with MacInnes Downie Wade, is the university’s interim Athletics and Recreation Director. As a student at Saint Mary’s, Downie was a letter athlete, an MVP in varsity soccer, and a keen competitor in hockey, lacrosse, football, track and field, and baseball. After completing an Honours BA…
Breaking Ground in Goose Bay
By Maroon & White |
Dr. Trudy Sable had just begun a six-day stay to work with the Innu community of Sheshatshiu when the call came to meet with Grand Chief Prote Poker for the official signing of a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding with Saint Mary’s University. A 40-minute drive on winding, icy roads took Dr. Sable to Goose Bay, Labrador and the fruition of 15 years’ work collaborating with the Innu…
Letter From the Alumni President
By Maroon & White |
Welcome to our newly designed issue of the Maroon & White. We hope you enjoy the fresh new look.
The spring issue is published when our graduating students are about to cross the stage to become our newest alumni. It seemed fitting to highlight a few of our outstanding students-it was a tough choice but we think you’ll…
Chemistry’s Positive Energy
By Maroon & White |
Kudos to two Saint Mary’s Chemistry professors, Christa Brosseau and Jason Clyburne.
Dr. Brosseau earned top honours at the Discovery Centre’s 11th Annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology as the 2013 Emerging Professional. An honour reserved for outstanding individuals under the age of 35, this recognizes Dr. Brosseau’s research as part of a global effort to develop portable…
Putting Mercury on the Map
By Maroon & White |
Working as part of a university-government partnership, with funds from Environment Canada and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Saint Mary’s Environmental Scientist Dr. Linda Campbell collaborated to produce the first map of mercury concentrations in fish across Canada. The value of a national map, according to Dr. Campbell, is that it demonstrates the variations…
Doing Good is Good Business
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s University’s Enactus team shone at the Enactus Regional Competition in Halifax this spring, taking first place in both the Capital One Financial Education Challenge and the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge. The Regionals were equally stellar for Sobey School of Business marketing student Victoria Blue, who won the HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow Award for all of Atlantic Canada.
Market Smarts
By Maroon & White |
Bryan McLaughlin’s extracurricular activities include keeping a sharp watch on the market. “Not the stock market,” says the 23-year-old Sobey School of Business student, laughing, “the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market.”
As the Director of Organizational Development for Saint Mary’s ENACTUS team, McLaughlin helped a local, small business increase sales and move from a cramped…
From Track Suit to Tux
By Maroon & White |
Former Olympian Andrew Russell traded his track suit for a tuxedo to receive a prestigious Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership during a gala held at Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
“I am very thankful to have received this honour,” says Russell, a second-year Sobey School of Business MBA student who competed as a sprint canoeist in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.…
Saint Mary’s Gives Peace a Chance
By Maroon & White |
January saw the 10th anniversary of the Saint Mary’s University and Peaceful Schools International peace education initiative in Belfast, an annual program led by Bridget Brownlow, Saint Mary’s conflict resolution adviser. Over the past decade, more than 100 Saint Mary’s students have travelled to Northern Ireland and taught conflict resolution strategies to thousands of school children. Drawing…
Words from a Pulitzer Prize Winner
By Maroon & White |
Tribute and tradition shared centre stage with author Richard Ford on the evening of Friday, February 28th when the Pulitzer Prize winner delivered this year’s Cyril Byrne Lecture at Saint Mary’s University. One of the major cultural events in Halifax, the annual Cyril Byrne Lecture celebrates the life of a teacher, researcher, actor, and raconteur who passed away in 2006. During his 35-year…
On the Top and On the Move
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s was named a top five Canadian undergraduate university in Maclean’s 2014 University Rankings issue, moving up three spots from last year in our strongest finish to date. “Our placing is great recognition of the strength of our faculty in receiving national awards and research funding,” says University President, Dr. J. Colin Dodds. Maclean’s acknowledged Saint Mary’s as…
Net Assets
By Maroon & White |
Saint Mary’s basketball teams made headlines this season, with the Men’s Basketball Huskies emerging as the 2014 Subway AUS champions, and the Women’s Basketball Huskies ending a 31-game winning streak with a single season loss to take home a CIS silver. During that season finale, Justine Colley, twice the most valuable player in Canadian university sport women’s basketball, ended her incredible…
Get SMART: Get SMUapp
By Maroon & White |
There’s something for everyone in SMUapp, a free mobile app available for iOS and Android devices at smuport.smu.ca/smuapp. In addition to providing a secure way to access everything from grades, schedules and account information to campus news and events, SMUapp also offers…
Where in the World is Saint Mary’s?
By Maroon & White |
With more than 42,000 alumni in 140 countries, and a growing complement of international exchange programs, Saint Mary’s University has a rich tradition of cultivating connections around the globe. The exciting news is that we’re about to ramp it up a notch with a custom-built crowdsourcing initiative called #SMUselfie. Using the latest social…
Giving Back and Paying Forward
By Maroon & White |
Senator Wilfred P. Moore BComm’64, LLD’07 works on Parliament Hill, in an office once occupied by Sir John A. Macdonald, and Nova Scotia’s Joseph Howe and Sir Charles Tupper.
“When I look out my window, the first thing I see is a statue of William Lyon Mackenzie King,” says Senator Moore. “Then, looking behind him, I can see the larger-than-life…