Fall 2013
Bulletin
NEWS FEATURE
Celebrate with us! On November 15, 2013, Founder’s Day will mark the beginning of a year-long celebration of Acadia’s 175th anniversary. We invite you to join the festivities as we commemorate our past, honour our achievements, and plan for the future. Share your memories with us on social media, attend an alumni event in your area, and make a gift to celebrate this special occasion. You belong to a vital and vibrant part of Acadia: past, present and future. Stand Up and Cheer!
In Every Issue
Features
From the Acadia President .......... 2 From the AAAU President ........... 3 Eye on Acadia............................... 4 Alumni News............................... 15 Alumni Profiles........................... 16 Research...................................... 22 AAAU Profiles............................. 25 Development............................... 28
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Colville remembered
Acadia fondly remembers former University Chancellor and friend, artist Alex Colville.
Athletics....................................... 30 Class Notes.................................. 36 Acadia Remembers.................... 43 Final Frame................................. .44
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A special experience
Ellie Doggett may not have started in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia, but she was sure glad she finished there.
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Lasting gift
When Connie MacNeil died earlier this year, his friend and former classmate John T. Clark (’52) took immediate steps to set up a special scholar-bursary in MacNeil’s name.
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Enduring connections
Acadia and Acadia Athletics celebrate 175 years of remarkable milestones and outstanding achievements. ACADIA BULLETIN Fall 2013
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FALL 2013 Photo: Light and Lens Photography
Volume 96 Issue 2
Right place, right time
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n the course of our professional careers, volunteer activities and family lives, many of us have been lucky enough to experience that wonderful sensation of finding ourselves in the right place at the right time. I believe we, as members of the Acadia community, are experiencing one of those moments right now. Acadia’s 175th Anniversary is a special moment in our institution’s history, and it gives all of us an opportunity to reflect on our own connection to this unique institution. Whether we came here as a result of family tradition, the school’s outstanding reputation, well-informed investigation, or sheer happenstance, we all recognize that Acadia leaves an indelible mark on us as people. This edition of the Bulletin is a celebration of Acadia and the individuals who breathe life into it. The special anniversary supplement included with this issue is the first of three publications that will give voice over the course of our anniversary year to our alumni, family, teachers, co-workers and friends, so as to celebrate our past, present and future. Looking ahead, I know that Acadia will maintain and refine a commitment which is, quite simply, in our institutional blood, namely to offer our students a life-changing personal experience, rooted in a rigorous academic program and set in one of our country’s most beautiful campuses. There can be no higher calling for our University and no greater reward for our people. I believe our founders would take enormous pride in the Acadia of today, where outstanding faculty search for truth and guide the learning of students from every province and territory in Canada and over 50 countries around the world. I invite everyone to participate in our 175th Anniversary celebrations in any and every way that you can. Come to campus for an event, submit an idea to our online Anniversary social media discussions, or encourage prospective students to choose Acadia as the place where they can discover themselves and their future. However you choose to celebrate this important milestone, I know your heart will be here at Acadia – and that means you’ll be in the right place at the right time.
Raymond E. Ivany President and Vice-Chancellor 2
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Publisher Office of Advancement, Acadia University Editor Fred Sgambati (’83) Vice President, Advancement Rod Morrison Executive Director, Alumni Affairs and Advancement Strategy Ian Murray (’88) Advertising and Production Manager Sandra Symonds AAAU Board of Directors Hugh Bray (’75) Doug Jackson (’99) Geoff Irvine (’87) Michele Gerrard (’88) Charles Coll (’84) Kiersten Amos (’96) Christine White (’97) Malcolm Smith (’76) Matt Gray (’06) Paul MacIsaac (’88) Colette O’Hara (’02) Bev Richardson (’60) Suzanne Seaman (’97) Andrea Mosher (’03) Donalda MacBeath (’75) Leslie Lewis (’10) Leslie Flemming (’05) Jake Rideout (’11) Al MacDonald (’86) Stan Thomas (’81) Ryan Conrod (’06) Ryan McCarthy (’10) Graphic Designer Cathy Little Printing Transcontinental Printing Distributor Russell House Marketing The Bulletin is published twice a year, Fall/ Winter and Spring/Summer, by the Office of Advancement, Acadia University. It is distributed on the Acadia campus and by mail to more than 27,000 alumni. All material is copyright ©2013 Acadia University, and may be reprinted with written permission. Acadia Bulletin welcomes letters to the Editor: Fred Sgambati Office of Advancement Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 fred.sgambati@acadiau.ca 902.585.1725 Advertising inquiries: Advertising and Production Manager Communications and Marketing Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 902.585.1708 sandra.symonds@acadiau.ca
Enduring, inspiring, relevant In my more than nine years of alumni Board work, I have never witnessed the level of enthusiasm, engagement and activity that our community has shown recently. We are undergoing an awakening, a momentum shift on all fronts, and it’s absolutely thrilling! Consider for a moment our beautiful campus, which is undergoing a heritage renewal of key buildings and infrastructure that will show off its attributes and ensure its sustainability. Our alumni Classes have been incredibly active, too. The Classes of ’48 and ’63 celebrated reunions in grand style this summer and it was a pleasure to meet so many inspiring alumni who are great role models and generous supporters of our University. Your alumni association has forged a solid partnership with the Acadia Students’ Union, offering cooperative programs and events to the Acadia community designed to engage young grads. Our Alumni Board’s current make-up reflects this, with more than 25 per cent of directors representing the so-called ‘Young Alumni‘ cohort (10 years or less after graduation). We adopted this strategy in 2011 to ensure our rejuvenation, relevance and sustainability. Last but not least, this is a year of milestones: the 50th anniversary of Manning Memorial Chapel; 50th Annual Homecoming; the AAAU marking more than 150 years of service to alumni; and Acadia’s 175th Anniversary celebration, which kicks off on Founder’s Day, November 15th! I must applaud also the inspirational leadership and focus of President Ray Ivany and his management
team, and the tangible support of faculty and staff. Acadia has successfully navigated serious changes in the post-secondary education landscape and met tough business challenges head-on, but our work isn’t done yet! Ray and his team have engaged all sectors, including Acadia’s postsecondary partners, alumni and the community at large. Ray has delivered Acadia’s message at every opportunity across the country to position and promote Acadia’s uniqueness and growing reputation as one of the premier undergraduate institution in Canada. Simply put, we’re on a roll. Acadia has serious momentum right now, evidenced in the spirit on campus and the tremendous vibe in the community. We are punching above our weight on all fronts – from the quality of our academic programs and undergraduate research; to the work faculty is doing with new and returning students; to the excellent performance of our students in every capacity. Acadia is enjoying yearover-year growth in enrolment, the athletic success of our varsity teams, and the fact that 91 Acadia studentathletes are Academic All-Canadians. Not to mention our international students, who continue to shape Acadia’s renown as a university of choice in more than 50 countries worldwide. All proof positive of Acadia’s health, goodwill and value. Enduring, inspiring, and relevant? Absolutely! I look forward to seeing you all during the 175th anniversary celebrations. Stand Up and Cheer! Hugh Bray (’75) President, Associated Alumni of Acadia University
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d e i b r l c e n I
of humanity Disaster response leaves lasting impression on Red Cross volunteer By Fred Sgambati (’83)
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lthough Anna Kiefte has been back in Wolfville for several months since being deployed in Alberta as a Red Cross volunteer this summer, the incredible power of humanity she witnessed in the face of an unprecedented natural disaster lingers. Kiefte, a physics instructor and member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) at Acadia, spent three weeks in June and July in flood-ravaged Calgary and High River, AB as a member of a Red Cross disaster response team, providing relief and assisting in the recovery phase of the operation. Prior to that, she worked in a Red Cross call centre in Dartmouth after flooding had occurred and notes, “it was all very fresh. The flood had just happened two or three days prior and we were getting calls from people that had been displaced, looking for shelter. We also got panicked calls from loved ones all over the country looking for people, asking if this person or that person was safe.” The mandate in any Red Cross operation is to keep people safe, well and alive in small or large scale disasters, and the call centre gave Kiefte an opportunity to register people affected, determine the status of certain neighbourhoods, and respond to immediate concerns. Onsite later in High River after a week-long stint in the Red Cross’s central distribution warehouse in Calgary, Kiefte went door-to-door doing client field assessments, meeting with people at their homes and identifying what they might need. Most were still just
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getting into their homes and she says there was a lot of anxiety and frustration. “I was walking through neighbourhoods and seeing people’s possessions on their front lawn; refrigerators and freezers full of food that had gone bad; the smell of caked-on mud and excrement. It was hard to see people that way, and there were a lot of emotions involved.” Coping required two tools: empathy and compassion. “I try to be as warm and caring as possible without it being personalized too much. You have to steel yourself, but also remain warm, and that comes with training and a certain disposition, too. There’s the ability at the end of the day, within a community of fellow Red Crossers, to know that we’re working with highly vulnerable and affected people and that we’re all in the same boat. We’re not alone in this.” Kiefte describes a very intense situation. She worked long hours, 11 to 18-hour days in four different places, yet found the experience affirming. “You’d never want to see this happen,” she says emphatically, “but I think it was affirming that, when things do happen, others are willing to step in and do their best, make a terrible situation bearable, and keep others safe. “It’s very heartening. Human beings are human beings, and the word ‘resilience’ sticks in my mind when I look at the scenario and the people I met. The number of community members helping out strangers in their homes, digging out stuff from their basements, offering food, water, comfort and their expertise.”
Physics instructor and Red Cross volunteer Anna Kiefte in the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia.
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People are people no matter
Photo: Courtesy of Anna Kiefte
Photo: Fred Sgambati
where they live or who they are, and it’s amazing what happens when people come together.
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Anna Kiefte, left, with Carmen Jarrah, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, in High River, AB.
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Colville’s Fete Champetre. (Courtesy of Acadia University Art Gallery) 6
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Remembering
Colville A
lex Colville, one of Canada’s most distinguished and celebrated artists and Chancellor of Acadia University between 1981 and 1991, passed away peacefully at his home in Wolfville on July 16, 2013. Colville’s contribution to Canadian culture began when he joined the Canadian Army in 1942 as a war artist. His works hang in collections and galleries around the world, and he received numerous honours and awards for his work, including the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, the Molson Prize from the Canada Council and the Won Dunn International Award from the Beaverbrook Gallery in Fredericton. In 1973, Alex and Rhoda Colville moved to Wolfville, where they established themselves as very active and well-loved members of the community. The entire town was saddened in December, 2012 when Rhoda passed away at home. The Colvilles had been married for more than 70 years. Beyond his influence across Canada and internationally, Alex Colville made a significant contribution to Acadia. He was awarded an Honorary Degree in 1975 and in 1981 was appointed Acadia’s third Chancellor, a post he would hold until 1991. He continued to be an honorary member of Acadia’s Board of Governors thereafter.
Wonderful Chancellor and ambassador “I met the Colvilles shortly after they moved to Wolfville in 1973 and ended up forming a lifelong friendship with these two remarkable people,” says Dr. James R.C. Perkin, Acadia’s 12th President and author of a 1995 book on Colville entitled Ordinary Magic. “Alex was very generous with his time while Chancellor and often met with students who sought
him out for his wisdom and guidance. He was a very straightforward speaker with an ability to say very little, but to cut directly to the heart of any matter. He brought this discipline to his work at Acadia, and his obvious comfort in a university environment and his ease at home in Wolfville made him a wonderful Chancellor and ambassador for our institution.” The Colville legacy at Acadia includes both his professional work and his commitment to student success. The Colville Awards were established in 1991 by the Board of Governors and are awarded to a leading student entering his or her final year in Arts, Science or Professional Studies. This year, two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded. Acadia’s Art Gallery contains more than 35 of Colville’s works. The Colville collection has been assembled over many years through donations and contributions made by individual alumni and class gifts. Acadia’s collection includes serigraphs such as “Crow with Spoon” and “Fête Champêtre” but also a rare oil-on-board work “Light Fog” that was donated to Acadia by the Colville family. “Our entire community feels a sense of loss,” says Ray Ivany, President of Acadia. “While Alex Colville was connected directly to Acadia through his term as Chancellor, he and Rhoda were part of the fabric of Wolfville and it will be hard for many of us to think of our community without them. The legacy left by Alex through his art and his many achievements will serve as reminders to all of us of the importance of place and the people around us in our everyday lives. We extend our sincerest sympathies to the Colville family, sons Graham and Charles and daughter Ann, as well as Alex’s many close friends.” On behalf of the family, Graham Colville thanked members of the Acadia and Mount Allison communities
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Remembering Colville cont.
Alex Colville’s children, Charles and Graham Colville, and Ann Kitz.
who attended his father’s funeral service July 24 at Acadia’s Manning Memorial Chapel, “watched it on video, wrote to us and spoke to us. The response from across Canada and beyond was truly astonishing.” He added that his father “was an orderly man, so it may come as a surprise that he didn’t spell out details for his funeral. We were left to come up with something that might have met with his approval. In this we had expert support from Acadia’s new chaplain, Tim McFarland, whose personal warmth cheered and consoled us as we roughed out the plan for the service he later conducted. Jim Perkin, Tim’s father-in-law, delivered a moving eulogy that drew on years of friendship, as he had done for our mother little more than six months earlier. They were joined by Roger Prentice, the model for our father’s painting “Chaplain”, in that work’s setting, the non-
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denominational Manning Memorial Chapel. All three came with us for the double burial at a small, secluded cemetery in Starr’s Point that our parents had often visited. Somehow the presence of these friends helped to bestow what the critic Frank Kermode called ‘the sense of an ending’. “I went back to the cemetery the day after the funeral. I was alone except for a farmer on a tractor moving large bales of hay in an adjacent field. Our parents would have liked that. Inevitably, I thought of the passage from Philip Roth’s “Everyman” I had read at the service, in which a man visits the graves of his mother and father: ‘He couldn’t go. The tenderness was out of control. As was the longing for everyone to be living. And to have it all all over again.’” In addition to Rhoda, Alex Colville was predeceased by his son John in 2012.
Arthur Irving receives
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hancellor Emeritus Arthur Irving (’52) received the Canadian Red Cross 2013 Humanitarian Award for New Brunswick on November 6 in Saint John, NB. In making the announcement in June, Louise Castonguay, Atlantic director general of the Canadian Red Cross, said, “Arthur Irving has demonstrated a spirit of humanity that spans several decades. His vast contribution and commitment to the environment, to the province of New Brunswick and its people, and Atlantic Canada have developed into a legacy of growth, sustainability and fostering of community.” Widely known for contributions that have gone far beyond his business leadership, Irving has helped hundreds of organizations. A strong supporter of youth, he has established many scholarships, mentorship and tutoring programs as well as supporting Junior Achievement throughout the province. His involvement in sports and recreation includes the support of minor hockey throughout Atlantic Canada and the annual Irving Oil Challenge Cup, as well as assisting schools with athletic programs. The company’s Fuel to Care program provides fuel gift cards to families who travel frequently with their children’s medical care. Partnerships between Irving Oil and organizations such as the Saint John Sea Dogs, Imperial Theatre, Symphony Saint John, and the Saint John Theatre Company have benefited community cultural establishments. An avid outdoorsman, Irving has served for almost 40 years on the board of directors of Ducks Unlimited Canada, serving two as president and achieving many milestones such as the 1986 signing of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. His leadership and passion for the environment and for New Brunswick history led him to partner with DUC and Acadia University
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Red Cross Humanitarian Award in the creation of the Beaubassin Research Station in Aulac, NB, for ecological and scientific research. Irving’s humanitarian contributions have extended also beyond Canada. In 2010, after learning of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake, he sent two separate plane loads of doctors, nurses and medical supplies to care for the injured. In 2002, Irving was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2012 received the Order of New Brunswick for his lifelong work as a builder of the province’s economy and for his dedication to preserving the environment. Meanwhile, Alisha Virmani of Fredericton received the Canadian Red Cross 2013 Young Humanitarian Award for the province. Virmani is a graduate of Fredericton High School currently studying Life Sciences at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. A 2012 recipient of a Partners in Humanity award from the Red Cross, she has shared her personal experiences as a target of cyberbullying at many forums with youth and adults, including Champions for Children and Youth, a conference held in Vancouver in April 2013 on keeping kids safe, and the May 2013 annual conference of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies held in Halifax. Irving and Virmani were honoured on November 6, 2013 at the Humanitarian Awards dinner at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, proceeds of which support Canadian Red Cross disaster relief and educational programs in the province. Recipients of Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian and Young Humanitarian awards are selected among nominations received from the public. These awards highlight that, amid all other demands in people’s lives, there are those who make time for volunteerism, advocacy and community service, and whose leadership inspires others to pursue humanitarian goals.
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Opening the Vault at the Acadia University Art Gallery Bates painting provides interesting window on Acadia’s past
By Lindsay Bilodeau (’06)
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he Acadia University Art Gallery has received a new donation to its collection from Edward Langille. The painting, October in Wolfville, is a watercolour by Roy Elliot Bates, an Acadia alumnus, and it offers an intriguing look into the past of both Wolfville and Acadia University. Roy Elliot Bates, born in 1882,was a gifted scholar and artist. He studied English and Fine Arts at Harvard University and became Acadia’s first Rhodes scholar in 1904. Bates spent the years from 1905 to 1908 studying as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University and traveled during his vacations. During these vacations he spent time studying art in Paris, where he further developed his talent. October in Wolfville depicts an image of University Hall, one of Acadia’s most recognizable buildings. This painting offers an amazing glimpse into Acadia’s past and displays just how much the campus has changed since Bates painted it in the early 1900s. The biggest difference is in University Hall itself, once known as College Hall. The building was originally
constructed in 1854, but burned down on December 2, 1877. October in Wolfville depicts the second College Hall, which was completed in 1879 and, like its predecessor, destroyed by fire on December 2, 1920. This led to the construction of the third building in this place, known today as University Hall. Acadia University’s permanent collection of art began in the late 19th century with portraits of the University presidents and founders. With the establishment of the Acadia University Art Gallery in 1978, the collection was expanded through purchases and donations of other works of art. Stewardship of the permanent collection is an important focus of the gallery. The collection is presented publicly through curatorial research projects in the gallery, and can also be found installed throughout the Acadia campus. Works that are not on display are available for research and consultation. For more information on the Acadia University Art Gallery visit http://gallery.acadiau.ca or call 902-5851373.
‘October in Wolfville’ – Roy Elliot Bates (Courtesy of Acadia University Art Gallery)
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5 7 y 1 e r a e rs v O
Acadia has set an enviable standard for institutional and community leadership The Acadia Bookmobile was a traveling library during the summers of 1930 and 1931. (Acadia University Archives) By Laura Churchill Duke (’98)
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ooking back over the last 175 years, Acadia has stood above the rest many times as an institutional and community leader, helping to shape students’ lives and discourse on higher education across the country. “Acadia has never had the feeling that education belonged to the elite,” says Barry Moody (‘67), retired professor and former head of Acadia’s Department of History. “Education is and should be for everyone.” This concept has shaped Acadia’s philosophy, from its humble beginnings to the present day, and underscored the University’s unique role as a post-secondary school.
Here are just some of the ways Acadia has been ahead of the rest throughout her 175-year history.
No religious discrimination In 1838, when Edmund Crawley was denied a professorship at Dalhousie for not being a Presbyterian, he mobilized Nova Scotia Baptists to establish a college where there would be no religious discrimination against faculty or students. This was a courageous proposal, but Acadia’s founding successfully overcame the prevailing religious prejudice of the times.
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Building without money
Lectures on Canadian Literature
With a growing college, more facilities were needed. How could this to be done with no money? Professor Isaac Chipman traveled throughout the Maritimes to request donations of not only money, but glass, nails, paint and other building materials to build College Hall (the first University Hall). Unconventional, but it worked! College Hall opened in 1843.
In 1915, Dr. John Logan delivered a series of lectures on Canadian Literature at Acadia. This was the first of its kind ever delivered at a Canadian University. Logan became a special lecturer in Canadian Literature without salary at Acadia and the Toronto Globe is said to have called his appointment “an innovation of national importance.”
A practical education
Traveling library
“In the 1840s, universities provided classical education to primarily upper-class students,” Moody says. However, Acadia students were farmers, fisherman or lumbermen – from families for whom a university education was too expensive. Acadia wanted to depart from the norm and provide an opportunity for personal advancement in a practical sense. Courses such as “agricultural chemistry” and “navigation” were added to the curriculum, setting the path for specialized studies. Acadia’s first Bachelor of Arts was granted in 1843. “The Acadia BA is thus one of the oldest continuing undergraduate degrees in Canada,” Moody notes.
Acadia is credited with creating the first traveling library in the Maritimes. In the late 1920s, students from the manual training program at Acadia modified a truck to deliver books to communities throughout the Valley. According to Rural Library Service in Nova Scotia, “In the summers of 1930 and 1931 Acadia University operated two bookmobiles – one in NS and the other in NB and PEI. Each carried 1,500 books and stopped at 80 to 90 stations eight times during a summer. Because of the bad road conditions, service in winter was provided by mail. The cost was $1.50 per year.” “This may be,” suggests University Archivist Pat Townsend, “the foundation of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library.” Because of the Depression, however, service ceased in 1931.
Clara Belle Marshall Raymond In 1884, Clara Belle Marshall Raymond graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. This was a monumental accomplishment, for not only was she the first woman to graduate from Acadia, but also one of the earliest females to graduate in the British Empire.
Government funding Watson Kirkconnell, in the 1950s, was one of the first to approach government for university subsidies. “Dr. Kirkconnell,” writes Roger Prentice (’69) “was in the vanguard of university presidents in presenting the universities’ financial needs to the federal and provincial governments. This changed university funding for all universities.” The government saw financial support for post-secondary education as the next step in civic and social development. Because of this, university enrolment across Canada increased significantly.
Left: The first woman to graduate from Acadia: Clara Belle Marshall Raymond. (Acadia Archives)
Page 13: 1996, and the Acadia Advantage changes the landscape of post-secondary education. (Acadia Archives)
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Academic All-Canadians
The Acadia Advantage program was initiated in 1996. It integrated the use of notebook computers into the curriculum and featured innovations in teaching. By 2000, all full-time, undergraduate Acadia students were involved. Because of its pioneering efforts, Acadia has won several prestigious awards and is the only Canadian university selected as a Laureate in the Education and Academia category of the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards.
Acadia holds more conference and national championships than any other university in Atlantic Canada and has the highest number of Academic AllCanadians for primarily undergraduate universities in the country. Academic All-Canadians are varsity athletes who achieve an academic standing of at least 80 per cent. Eric Cederberg (‘94), Manager of Events and Communications for Athletics says, “Acadia’s remarkable total is because we recruit student-athletes not athletes.” And what better way to conclude than with a rousing rendition of Stand Up and Cheer? Here we go!
Alcohol awareness leadership Acadia joined the National College Health Improvement Plan (NCHIP), an American learning collaborative initiative, in May 2011. Acadia was the first university in Canada to do so and since then has built an evolving student-centered environment of personal responsibility for alcohol. Darren Kruisselbrink, kinesiology professor and member of Acadia’s NCHIP committee says, “this gives the students the tools to make good decisions in their social lives and to be leaders for change as we continue to move toward an environment of responsible alcohol consumption on campus.”
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Acadia Advantage
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Stand up and cheer Stand up and cheer for old Acadia! For today, we raise... The red and blue above the rest, Our teams are fighting, and they’re out to win the fray We’ve got the steam! BOOM BOOM! We’ve got the team! BOOM BOOM! For this is old Acadia’s day!
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“PROUD TO REPRESENT ACADIA UNIVERSITY”
T MC
Taylor Maclellan Cochr ane L A W Y E R S
Making Service A Matter of Practice Since 1835
Tel: (902) 678-6156 | www.tmclaw.com
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Photo: Peter Oleskevich
DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Tom Raddall says thanks a million to Acadia
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cadia University President and Vice-Chancellor, Ray Ivany, announced on October 17, 2013 the dedication of “The Raddall Wing” in the University’s Biology Building, in recognition of Dr. Thomas Raddall, Class of 1957. Dr. Raddall’s one-million dollar gift to establish The Raddall Research Fund in Biology is among the largest made by an individual to Acadia and will greatly enhance student and faculty research in the life sciences. “It has been 56 years since Tom received his undergraduate degree from Acadia, and we celebrate a significant gift that will encourage research excellence and student success well into the future,” Ivany said. “This reflects Tom’s lifelong commitment to his alma mater and we’re honoured to have his name and example permanently connected to our Biology Building and its programs.” The Raddall Research Fund in Biology will be used by the department to support purchases of equipment for use by faculty and students. The Fund will also finance student research projects and allow for increased participation in scientific conferences beginning in the 2013-14 academic year. This most recent gift from Dr. Raddall is in addition to scholarships and awards he had already established to support students and faculty in the sciences and the arts. “Tom’s thoughtfulness and generosity serve as a wonderful example of what the Acadia community hopes of every graduate,” said Ivany. “He has achieved success in his career, served his colleagues within his profession, and invested back in his community.” “Student excellence is a tenet of an Acadia education and I am pleased and privileged to be able to give back to a university that has given me and my classmates so much,” said Dr. Raddall. “I had a firstclass education and made lifelong friends during my time on campus. It is heartening to know that what I experienced still exists today, and that I can contribute to Acadia’s tradition of excellence.”
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“Tom Raddall is a role model for our students,” said Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s Vice-President, Academic, “many of whom will follow in his footsteps to pursue a professional career. He is also a role model as a philanthropist – as someone committed to giving back to the community.” Herman described Dr. Raddall’s keen interest in environmental effects on our coastline, and his desire to keep our coastal waters clean and healthy. “Having his name attached to our Biology Building and connected to our students’ research is a natural fit,” Herman said. Thomas H. Raddall II graduated from Acadia in 1957 with a bachelor of science before earning a D.D.S. from Dalhousie University in 1961. He returned to his hometown of Liverpool, N.S., where he established a successful dental practice and dedicated himself to community and professional service. Throughout his career, he remained a strong and loyal supporter of Acadia and its students. Previous gifts to Acadia were named for his mother, Edith Freeman Raddall, and father, renowned writer Thomas H. Raddall. In 2001, Dr. Raddall joined Acadia’s Board of Governors, where he served until 2013. His genuine interest in students was recognized by the Acadia Students’ Union in 2004 when it chose Dr. Raddall to be the first recipient of its Governor of the Year award. The Biology Building (2008) is Acadia’s newest academic building on campus and was created with the environment and an enhanced teaching atmosphere in mind. The building is designed to meet Gold Level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards set by the Canada Green Building Council – a first for academic science buildings in Atlantic Canada. Attending the gift announcement on October 17, 2013: (left to right) VicePresident Academic, Dr. Tom Herman; University President Ray Ivany; Dr. Tom Raddall; his wife, Pam Raddall; University Chancellor Libby Burnham (’60); and Vice-President Advancement, Dr. Rod Morrison.
Alumni News
Maritime Picnic in the city a real crowd-pleaser! A total of 75 Acadia alumni and friends enjoyed a Lobster Picnic at the Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club on May 25th in the national capital. Executive Director of Alumni Affairs Ian Murray (’88) was on hand to meet and greet and share in the family-friendly celebration, which included Dr. Jill Starkes (left, ’02) and Dana Beaton (’01). Special thanks to event organizers Suzanne Seaman (’97), Ed Hemphill (’89) and Michelle Renner (’93).
Alumni celebration at TO Lobster Boil More than 100 people turned out for the 2nd Annual East Coast Lobster Boil in Toronto on Friday, June 7, 2013. Executive Director of Alumni Affairs Ian Murray (’88) and Executive Director of Philanthropy Nancy Handrigan (’92) were on hand for the festivities and greeted guests, who enjoyed fun, fellowship and plenty of lobster with all the fixings at Gossip Restaurant. As part of the celebration, Chris Kavanagh (’74, second from left, above) was honoured for his many years of dedicated service to the Associated Alumni of Acadia University. Sharing the moment with him are alumni Board members (left to right): Al MacDonald (’86), Leslie Lewis (’10), and Matt Gray (’06).
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Alumni Profiles
A special experience Hungry for something different, alumna finds career path in School of Nutrition and Dietetics
By Fred Sgambati (’83)
Ellie Doggett may not have started in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia, but she was sure glad she finished there. The 2013 graduate, who will complete a 12-month dietetic internship on the South Shore of Nova Scotia in December, began her academic career at Acadia in biology. Doggett says she didn’t really know about the Nutrition program then. All she knew was she wanted to work in the health care industry. However, at the end of her first year, Doggett was hungry for something different. Exploring options, she met with Barb Anderson, director of the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia. During the course of their conversation, Anderson provided important guidance that gave Doggett the confidence to expand her boundaries personally and academically. Anderson says, “we are one of the few programs where, after students graduate, they become our immediate professional peers as dietitians. That’s a unique situation. We play a role in their success, we are part of that journey, and it’s an opportunity for us to provide the fodder – the growing material – and to really understand that these are young lives we’re influencing. It’s a privilege and a gift, and I’m always mindful of that.” Anderson says Doggett took advantage of the various opportunities in the Nutrition and Dietetics program to dig deeper into an area of passion by taking an Independent Studies course. “Not many people do that,” she adds. “Ellie chose to really explore an area of interest, which is a great thing.”
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Work ethic rewarded That willingness was rewarded in 2013 when Doggett applied for and received a Judy Van Tilburg Memorial Award, given in recognition of the recipient’s personal and professional potential in the dietetic profession. The award helps interns network with other dietitians and assists them in furthering their professional development. It also supports a complimentary Dietitians of Canada (DC) annual conference registration for two qualifying members across Canada who are enrolled in a DC-accredited internship/practicum program. Doggett attended the national conference in Victoria, B.C. and presented research she had completed at Acadia on the relationship between food insecurity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes. “It was really amazing,” Doggett says. “I was honoured to be chosen, and it really got me excited about my profession. There were over 600 dietitians there and I met so many other interns from across Canada.” In preparation, Doggett and Anderson met weekly in a collaborative learning environment that focused on her specific area of study, the topic for her paper and how to present it. “Barb stimulated the discussion,” Doggett says, “and got more and more out of me. She helped me work on the report and presentation, too. It was definitely hands-on.” That sort of personal attention was typical of Doggett’s Acadia experience from
Photo: Fred Sgambati
Alumni Profiles
Barb Anderson (left), director of Acadia’s School of Nutrition and Dietetics, with Ellie Doggett (‘13).
start to finish. She came from Dartmouth High originally to get a preliminary look at the campus during Acadia Days “and basically fell in love with the place. I knew right away I’d be able to build relationships and have a better experience due to the smaller class sizes. By the end of fourth year, our class was pretty close. It was a special experience, and I think we were all sad to leave.” Anderson says, “the value of this type of undergraduate program is you have the opportunity to explore many career choices. You’re not pigeon-holed in one way or type of practice. You can go on to take medicine, dentistry or optometry if you wish. It’s a great applied science degree.” For now, Doggett plans to finish her internship and then test the job market. The many relationships and personalized education that characterized her experience has given her the tools to meet the challenge. She looks back fondly on her time at Acadia, and is looking ahead with great anticipation to a future career in her chosen field.
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Alumni Profiles
Acadia grads
go
internati Hard work, solid foundation helps singer Leslie Davis shine By Laura Churchill Duke (’98)
“
For an international career in opera, it is important to have a strong sense of self coupled with an expanding open mind; for me, Acadia planted these seeds,” says Leslie Davis (’03). Davis should know. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Music from Acadia 10 years ago, Davis has forged a clear path to an illustrious singing career in Canada and the United Kingdom. After completing a Master in Music in Victoria, Davis spent three summers at the Banff Centre for the Arts and two at Opera Nuova (opera training programs for young Canadian singers); completed a post-graduate diploma in vocal performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK; and a Master in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music, also in London. Davis lives in the UK and works as a freelance opera singer. Recent projects have included the Glyndebourne Festival understudying the role of Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff. With her career well in hand, one would think that Davis always knew she would be an opera singer. The fact is, once upon a time she dreamed of playing the piano.
Familiar with the School of Music She took lessons during high school and, being from Windsor, Nova Scotia, had hopes of going to Acadia to further her studies. “I spent time at Acadia as a teenager participating in the Annapolis Valley Music Festival, and spent many summers involved in the Acadia Summer Music Camps, so I was very familiar with the School of Music (SoM),” Davis says. “However, I got involved in high school with a few musicals and caught the bug of singing on stage. I quickly learned that acting and singing on stage was much more fun
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than practicing the piano for hours on my own.” When asked what got her to where she is today, Davis is unequivocal; the foundation she received at Acadia. “It was a combination of my musical studies and community life at Acadia,” she says. “Campus life, which for me focused on being a Residence Assistant, shaped who I am through building relationships with other students. By leading, supporting and being responsible for fellow students, I learned to be inclusive, empathetic, and embrace a positive outlook on life.”
Never a doubt “I never had a doubt that Leslie would be successful at something since she was such a hard-working and dedicated student,” says Davis’s former music professor in Acadia’s School of Music, Dr. Jeff Hennessy (’99). “I’m thrilled for her. Students like Leslie are what convinced me to pursue a career teaching in a university.” Acadia’s School of Music has a long and distinguished history of creating successful musicians. Like Davis, many students have gone on to professional careers in music. Dr. Christianne Rushton (’98), head of voice in the School of Music, also has international operatic performance credits on her resume, and says that student numbers and faculty relationships play a significant role at Acadia. “The fact that the SoM is a small school means that each student has time to grow and succeed within a safe and nurturing environment, and faculty works together to build well-rounded and serious students with a potential for a bright future.” Additionally, all students are taught by faculty with extensive and demanding careers. “Faculty are current
Alumni Profiles
ional in their field, whether it’s performing, research, therapy, musicology or teaching. Students benefit from this ‘realworld’ knowledge,” Rushton says. For anyone interested in coming to Acadia’s School of Music and planning on a career in music, Davis has some advice: “Listen to people who are better than you, learn from them, and practice a lot!” For more information on the School of Music, visit: http://music.acadiau.ca/
Leslie Davis in Benjamin Britten’s Phaedra. (Photos courtesy of Leslie Davis)
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For an international career in opera, it is important to have a strong sense of self coupled with an expanding open mind; for me, Acadia planted these seeds Leslie Davis (’03)
Leslie Davis
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Alumni Profiles
Alumna identified as emerging Canadian leader A
cadia alumna Leslie Lewis (’10, BBAH) has been selected by Action Canada as one of 17 2013-14 Action Canada Fellows and an emerging Canadian leader. As a member of this group of promising young Canadians, Lewis will participate in Action Canada’s 11-month leadership development and public policy program. During the fellowship year, the Fellows attend five working conferences across Canada, research and develop new public policy projects and learn from mentors who are current leaders in government, business, arts, academia and non-governmental organizations. They also join the prestigious Action Canada Network of Fellows, which now has 153 members who are supporting each other in addressing public policy challenges facing our country. For more information and Leslie’s complete biography, please visit www.actioncanada.ca.
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Summer fun! Alumni News
The Classes of 1948 and 1963 joined forces to celebrate their 65th and 50th anniversaries respectively and create more Acadia memories July 12-14 in Wolfville during Summer Reunion 2013. A total of 56 participants – 35 classmates and 21 guests – enjoyed receptions, class meetings, a Q. and A. session with Chancellor Libby Burnham (’60) and Vice-President Academic Tom Herman, a penny parade, banquet, organ prelude and Memorial Service. The Associated Alumni of Acadia University (AAAU) awarded the Reunion Cup to the Class of 1948 for having the best proportionate representation of its living members at the reunion. The Distance Award was a tie, presented to two alumni: Judy Kick Simmonds (’63) and Aubrey Cobham (’63), both of whom came from Victoria, B.C. The Class of 1963 also unveiled a plaque at the Memorial Service on Sunday, July 14 to mark their donation of a zimbelstern, or ‘cymbal star’, for the organ chapel in memory of Ruby May Thompson. Ian Murray (’88), Executive Director of Alumni Affairs at Acadia, said, “Summer Reunion 2013 was a great opportunity to reconnect with a tremendous group that shared warm and wonderful memories of their time at Acadia and showed once again the incredible spirit that characterizes our alumni.” Pictured having some fun at the penny parade are (left to right): Al Whittle (Class of 1960), Clara Jefferson (’48), and Eleanor Chase (’63).
Photos: Justin Knight
Outstanding tournament! Thirty teams and more than 120 golfers took to the links at Ken-Wo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S., on Friday, July 26, 2013 for the 32nd Annual Acadia Alumni Golf Tournament. Sponsored by the Associated Alumni of Acadia University (AAAU), the one-day event saw warm weather prevail over forecasted rain, and Acadia alumni and friends combined to raise $3,400 in scholarship funds to support three students from local high schools entering Acadia. Seventeen members of the 1993 Acadia hockey team joined in the fun in conjunction with a 20th anniversary reunion celebrating their national championship win. Team members in the photo include: Dennis Sproxton, Paul Sutcliffe, Ken Cullihall, George Dupont and Morgan Mann. A great time was had by all, and special thanks are extended to this year’s gold sponsors: Valley Ford, Rogers, and Halifax Port Authority. To view our photo gallery, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/acadiauniversity/ sets/72157634895799563/
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RESEARCH
Tapping into tidal
power By Rachel Cooper(’89)
Dr. Richard Karsten
With $1.6 million from Natural Resources Canada’s ecoEnergy Innovation Initiative competition, Dr. Richard Karsten is working with colleagues and partners to find potential sites for underwater turbines in the restless waters by Digby, N.S. By Rachel Cooper (’89)
Along the craggy coast of southwestern Nova Scotia, the rocky narrows of the Digby Gut connect the Bay of Fundy with the Annapolis Basin. The treacherous tidal currents that make the Gut a risky spot for sailors also make it an ideal spot for researching ways of harnessing tidal energy. In a three-year, $3.3 million research project, Dr. Richard Karsten of Acadia’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics is investigating the Digby Gut and two other Digby Neck channels as potential sites for underwater turbines to generate electricity. Digby Neck is a small peninsula that lies alongside mainland Nova Scotia in the Bay of Fundy. The project will assess the sites on their greatest energy potential, but will also consider the engineering, construction, and operational costs associated with different technologies. Called “Reducing the cost of in-stream tidal energy generation through comprehensive hydrodynamic site assessment,” the project involves other Acadia departments and five partners, including Dalhousie University and the University of New Brunswick. Funding of $1.6 million will come from Natural Resources Canada through its 2012 ecoEnergy Innovation Initiative competition. In simple terms, Karsten’s part of the project
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is to use mathematical modeling to figure out how much power is available at the three sites, how much electricity can be generated using turbine technology, and how extracting power will change the tides. In short, it will define the opportunity to develop tidal power there.
Industry partners The three industry partners are Fundy Tidal, Dynamic Systems Analysis, and Clean Current. Fundy Tidal is owned by community members in the Digby Neck area. “They’re the only company in Nova Scotia that has the right to sell tidal power to Nova Scotia Power right now,” says Karsten, “and they have the right to do this in the three Digby Neck passages.” Dynamic Systems Analysis, Halifax, engineers marine structures and cabled systems in the ocean and is able to show how a turbine will survive and react to the tidal flows. Clean Current Power Systems is a Canadian company that develops river and tidal turbines to produce electricity with minimal environmental impact and zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Modeling the tides RESEARCH
Photos: Fred Sgambati
Using computers and numerical models to predict how fast the water is moving at a given location, Karsten and his undergraduate students are modeling the tidal flow. With accurate models, they can identify the best places to site turbines. From there, they can predict how much power the turbines would generate if placed singly or as a large array, or farm. The final task is to identify the impact turbines would have on the flow of the water and, ultimately, on the tides and local ecology. “When the water flows through the turbine, it slows down,” Karsten says. “That’s the power you’re taking out. And if you put many, many turbines in, the slowing down of the water is going to change the tides.” A significant slowing of the water would have two main effects. First, it would change how much electricity would be generated if more turbines were installed. Second, it would affect the plants and animals that depend on the mud flats of the intertidal zone, including marine life and migrating birds. “We’re trying to make sure we’re always balancing the possible benefits of generating electricity from the tides with the possible impacts on the environment,” Karsten says. Karsten’s students have done the bulk of the work developing the numerical models. One student is now looking at the potential change in area of the mud flats in the Annapolis Basin. Before any decisions are made to install turbines, the project’s environmental impact will be assessed.
Senator Kelvin Ogilvie (’63) and Dr. Richard Karsten
Photos: Fred Sgambati
Acadia’s location and people Acadia’s location on the Bay of Fundy makes it a natural place to work on tidal projects, Karsten says, but the people here are just as important. “For a small university, we’ve got a core of researchers here working on tidal energy,” he says. “We have formed the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute with the mission of advancing knowledge of tidal energy that respects the environment and promotes socioeconomic prosperity.” The Institute includes Anna Redden from Biology for the environmental work; John Colton from Recreation Management and Community Development, who’s looking at how the communities around the Bay of Fundy will be affected; and Shelley MacDougall from the School of Business, who’s looking at the economic side of the project. The involvement of students has been vital in getting the research done, Karsten says, but also because he can teach this project in the classroom. “We’ve tried to focus on making our research useful to the development of tidal energy, to answering the important questions about tidal energy,” he says. “And I think a large part of that is being at Acadia. We do this every day in our classrooms.”
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Alumni NEWs
Teeing it up for Acadia! The 2nd Annual Acadia Alumni Butler Memorial Golf Tournament took place at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Georgetown, ON, on September 19, 2013. More than 100 people took part and helped to raise funds for the Ron and Cyndi Butler Award and the Toronto branch of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University. Special thanks are extended to volunteer event organizers Craig Butler (’91) and Chris Kavanagh (’75) for their leadership and vision. Thanks also to the title sponsor, Craig Butler of CIBC Wood Gundy, and hole sponsors Paul Bailey (’75) of Bazil Developments and Gary Goldman (’75) of Stafford Homes Ltd. Pictured are (left to right): Brian Wood (’83), Lynda McCowan (’74), John Goudey (’75), and Rod Morrison (Vice-President, Advancement at Acadia University).
Mark your calendar! Upcoming Acadia Alumni Events We’re working on events in the following areas – please check the website at http://alumni.acadiau.ca/alumni-events.html for updates.
Fall 2013
Spring 2014
Friday, Nov. 15 – Founder’s Day Celebration Sunday, Dec. 1 – Carol Sing Monday, Dec. 2 – Holiday Social on the Hill Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Boston Reception Thursday, Dec. 12 – New York Reception
Thursday, April 3 – 12th Annual Gala Dinner May 9-12 – Spring Convocation/ Graduation Weekend Saturday, May 10 – AAAU AGM Thursday, June 5 – Atlantic University Alumni Pub Night - Ottawa Maritime Lobster Picnic - Ottawa East Coast Lobster Boil - Toronto Western Canada Receptions Maritime Receptions Hockey Celebrity Dinner
Winter 2014 Bermuda and Caribbean Receptions Toronto Business Breakfast Asian Receptions Annual Florida Luncheon
Summer 2014 July 11-13 – Summer Reunion July 25, 2014 – Annual Alumni Golf Tournament
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Donalda MacBeath (’75) Donalda MacBeath was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and lived throughout the Maritimes during her childhood. She completed high school in Digby, N.S., and attended Acadia for five years, entering from Grade 11 and completing a four-year BA Honours in Economics. Donalda graduated in May 1975, which also coincided with her parents’ 25th anniversary of graduating from Acadia. She then completed a year of graduate studies in economics, completing the course requirements for an MA in the spring of 1976. In the fall of 1976, Donalda started legal studies at Dalhousie, graduating in the spring of 1979. She then moved to Calgary, Alberta to begin a career in law. She started in private practice and then moved into corporate work in the oil and gas industry, and has held mid- and senior management positions with various intermediate to large energy companies. She is currently a legal consultant with Chevron Canada on a part-time basis. Donalda is married with three children. Their oldest daughter graduated from Acadia in business in 2011 and currently lives and works in Toronto. Lisa and Gavin are both currently attending Acadia, studying geology and engineering respectively. Donalda and her husband own a home in Smith’s Cove, N.S. and look forward to spending more time there in the years to come. Her family has a strong connection to Acadia as, in addition to her and my parents, her four siblings are all graduates as was her fraternal grandmother. In her spare time, Donalda enjoys reading, hiking, travel, running and playing the piano. Nominations are open for the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations forms are available at http://alumni.acadiau.ca distinguished-alumni.html
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AAAU
Ryan is legal counsel and manager of loss control and risk for a privately owned national trucking company headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He has served on a number of boards in the past, including the East Coast Music Association board of directors and the board of governors of Acadia University. Ryan currently serves as a director on the board of a non-profit preschool and daycare in the north end of Halifax. Ryan graduated from Acadia University in 2006 with a BSc in biology. While at Acadia, he was actively involved in campus life as a resident advisor, a teaching assistant and a summer student at the Acadia Institute for Teaching and Technology. During his final two years at Acadia, Ryan served back-to-back terms as president of the Acadia Students’ Union. He went on from Acadia to receive a Juris Doctor in law from the University of Toronto.
AAAU profiles
Ryan Conrod (’06)
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Homecoming Weekend 2013 1, 2: Twelve teams gathered outside University Hall at Acadia University on Friday, October 18, 2013 for the 101st running of the annual Bulmer Relay. With the sun peeking through threatening skies, the Inner Ninjas of Eaton House finished first overall and were awarded the Bulmer Cup by Chancellor Libby Burnham (’60). SMILE Acadia was second and Barrax Speed third, with the Inner Ninjas nabbing the Most Original Baton Award (a wooden sword) and Hermes Rejects in their fantastic togas earning the nod for Most Original Costume. Photos: Fred Sgambati
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3: More than 30 members representing the Classes of ’81, ’82 and ’83 enjoyed
a reunion reception in Clark Commons on October 18 with Chancellor Libby Burnham (’60), AAAU President Hugh Bray (’75) and Acadia’s Executive Director of Philanthropy Nancy Handrigan (’92). Photo: Sandra Symonds
4, 5, 6: A huge crowd of Acadia alumni and friends gathered at Alumni Hall on Saturday, October 19 for the annual AAAU Backyard BBQ. Joining in the celebration prior to the football game was current Executive Director of Alumni Affairs Ian Murray (left, ’88) and two of his predecessors: Steve Pound (’72) and Geoff Irvine (’87). Acadia fans went home happy, too, as the Axemen posted a 27-11 win over St. F. X. Photos: Fred Sgambati 7: The 25th anniversary of Acadia Arena was also a key part of Homecoming,
with a special ceremony on October 18 prior to the game between Acadia and St. Thomas that included: (left to right) Libby Wells (wife of the late Don Wells, former head hockey coach and Director of Athletics at Acadia); Don MacLeod; Bill Parker (’56), Dr. James Perkin, Dwight Lucas (’89), Thane Stevens (’80), Bill Walsh (’89), University President Ray Ivany, VP Advancement Rod Morrison, VP Administration Darrell Youden, and Director of Athletics Kevin Dickie. Acadia captain Liam Heelis and St. Thomas captain Felix Poulin took the face-off. Acadia won 3-1. Photo: Eric Cederberg
8: Connie MacNeil’s family, including his wife Myrt (’53); daughter Margie;
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sons David, Andrew and Phillip; two grandsons, Dustin and Madison; greatgrandson Lane; son-in-law Brad MacIntosh; and other family members were at Acadia Arena on Sunday, October 20 as part of a moving ceremony to retire MacNeil’s iconic #6 Acadia jersey. MacNeil (’52), a former hockey Axemen, educator, 2011 Sports Hall of Fame inductee and beloved member of the alumni community, passed away in May 2013. Current players attending included Chris Owens, Colin Archer, Liam Heelis and Cullen Morin, plus Acadia Blueline Club president Tom Prescott (’58). Photo: Peter Oleskevich
9: The Associated Alumni of Acadia University presented Sunday Music in the Garden Room at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre on October 20, featuring the music of the Cecilia String Quartet on its Debut Atlantic Tour. Photo: Oonagh Proudfoot
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DEvelopment
Alumni and friends pool talents to support Sydney Taylor Memorial Fund By Laura Churchill Duke (’98)
S
ydney Taylor (’13) shone brilliantly during her time at Acadia, and family members and friends came together during Homecoming 2013 to share that light, celebrate her life and raise funds in her memory. Sydney died as a result of an accident in Mexico in May 2013. The Sydney Taylor Memorial Fund was established shortly thereafter by her father, Barry Taylor (’80), and Sydney’s classmates. “Syd’s friends jumped on board immediately, raising funds with their music and actions,” Barry says, “and I can’t think of a better way to honour Syd’s life and contribution to this world than by paying it forward. She impacted the lives of many while she was with us; more than I ever realized.” Response has been tremendous so far, and the fund now contains over $30,000 thanks to donations and fundraising events, including the one during Homecoming Weekend in the Axe Lounge. SydStock was created, Barry says, to showcase the talent of Acadia students and alumni. “Our goal was to raise a minimum of $5,000,” and Barry hopes also that it will become an annual event. Sydney herself was a vibrant and active member of the Acadia community who was passionate about human rights, music and the environment. It’s expected the first award in her name will be presented in September 2014. Nancy Handrigan (’92), Executive Director of Philanthropy at Acadia, says the award will be used to support returning students in the Faculty of Arts who show leadership qualities and enrich student life on- or off-campus. “My reaction (to the establishment of the memorial fund) was one of immense gratitude to all,” says Barry. “I also now have many more new friends who have been there for me through this time and with whom I have contact almost daily. “To have Sydney’s impact and participation in her community as the example for others to set as a goal, or to encourage their active participation in making our world, school and community a better place to live, is a legacy that very few of us will leave behind when we are gone,” Barry notes. “Sydney is very much alive in the hearts and memories of those she touched. Being able to add to those who benefit from this fund makes me just as proud of her today as I was every day of her life.” Anyone wishing to donate to the Sydney Taylor Memorial Fund can do so online at http://giving.acadiau.ca, by phone at 902-585-1459 or by cheque to Acadia University, Office of Advancement, 512 Main Street, Wolfville, N.S., B4P 2R6.
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The Sydney Taylor (’13) Memorial Fund was established in 2013 by friends and family in memory of Sydney Taylor, to honour her commitment to academic excellence, her inquisitive nature and her love of family, friends and community. Sydney was a vibrant and active member of the Acadia community who was passionate about human rights, music and the environment whose life should serve as an inspiration to young people to be confident and fearless. She completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Politics.
DEvelopment
Clark scholar-bursary honours long-time friend When Conrad (Connie) MacNeil died earlier this year, his friend and former classmate John T. Clark took immediate steps to set up a special scholar-bursary in MacNeil’s name. The gift, one among many over the years by the Clark family, was a memorial to a friendship that spanned more than half a century. By Rachel Cooper (’89)
F
riendships formed at Acadia can run deep and last for decades. For John T. Clark (BSc ’52, DCL ’10) and Conrad (Connie) MacNeil (BA ’53, BEd ’54), the friendship lasted until MacNeil’s death in May 2013 at the age of 84. Within a month, Clark had honoured the memory of his friend by establishing the Conrad (Connie) MacNeil Memorial Scholar-Bursary. Given annually, it will go to a wellrounded student entering the second or later year of study who has had a positive impact on the Acadia and Wolfville communities. Preference will be given to a student from New Brunswick who plays varsity hockey. “Connie was a classmate,” Clark says. “We met when we first went to Acadia, and we played hockey and rugby together. I knew him for 64 years.” Although they lived in different provinces, Clark and MacNeil would meet at milestone alumni reunions. The most recent was the 60th in 2012. Clark’s home was in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He ran the family cardealer business, including Canada’s oldest Chevrolet dealership, and was a leader in business and the community. His sons now run the business, operating three dealerships. MacNeil was born in Cape Breton and remained in Nova Scotia to become a pioneer in physical education. He was an active volunteer in Acadia sports and was inducted into the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame.
Tradition of generosity The scholar-bursary, funded by the J.T. Clark Family Foundation, Inc., is the most recent step in the Clark family’s tradition of generosity to Acadia.
“My father established two other scholarships for eligible students from New Brunswick, one in business administration, the other with a sports direction,” Clark says. “This was a way to add to what he did.” The Clark family’s history has been intertwined with Acadia’s for generations. Clark’s grandfather, William George Clark, a LieutenantGovernor of New Brunswick, served on the Board of Governors for many years. He and his wife, Harriet Hannah Richardson Clark, both received honorary degrees from Acadia. Clark’s aunt, Esther Clark Wright, graduated in 1920, and a family gift helped to establish the Esther Clark Wright permanent archives in the Acadia library. His father, Alden Wright, graduated in 1924 and was one of the first inductees into the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame. Clark’s sister Nancy is also an Acadia graduate, as are his two sons, John and Jim.
Clark Commons After years of supporting Acadia through scholarships and other initiatives, the family established the J.T. Clark Family Foundation 14 years ago. In 2003, the foundation contributed the entire construction costs for Acadia’s first-ever college commons. Clark Commons opened in 2003 as a recreational and social hub for students. Although the foundation is in his name, Clark is adamant that Clark Commons is not named for him. “It’s named for the family,” he asserts. “When I was at Acadia, I think at the time there were only 500 students,” Clark adds. “The friendships I made there could never be duplicated, as far as I’m concerned. That was the big thing for me.”
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Athletics
Past meets present as University, Athletics celebrate milestones
Director of Athl
etics Kevin Dic kie.
By Fred Sgambati (’83)
W
hen you think about the success of great teams or individuals in sport, one thing comes to mind: how did they get there? What combination of elements came together to make a good program great, a fine athlete extraordinary? The foundation upon which excellence depends is usually described in a winning tradition that leaves a legacy or creates a blueprint for success, and nowhere is this more evident than at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Acadia has a strong and enduring record of academic and athletic excellence, evidenced by numerous AUS and CIS championships and individual awards. This year is particularly special in that the University will celebrate its 175th anniversary and also the 25th anniversary of the opening of Acadia Arena. Director of Athletics Kevin Dickie says history like this is what sets Acadia apart. “Whether you know that Acadia is 175 years old or not, most people do know that we have a long, rich history – a connection to the past – that separates us from a lot of schools. It’s amazing that a second-year athlete can have a connection to alumni that played their sport and also appreciate the legacy through such things as our Sports Hall of Fame Event.” As a group, Dickie says, “it’s a year where we want to reflect on our national championship teams, athletes, coaches and builders, celebrate their success and
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applaud the remarkable experience our student-athletes enjoy competitively and within the community.”
Powerful community connection He is enthusiastic, too, about the powerful connection between Acadia Athletics and the surrounding community. Student-athletes are involved in everything from the Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience (S.M.I.L.E.) program, Kinderskills, the WITS anti-bullying campaign in conjunction with the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board and RCMP, causal fundraising (including Alzheimers Society of Nova Scotia, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Movember events for Prostate Cancer Canada, and the Terry Fox Run), plus minor hockey and basketball developmental programs for area youth. “There’s certainly an education outside the classroom,” Dickie says, “and here, it’s not even six degrees of separation. We are the community and the community is us. That’s Acadia! It’s small and interactive, providing countless opportunities for student-athletes to get to where they want to go, make a difference, and leave a lasting impression. “There’s a really clear evolution of what our studentathletes go through while they’re here,” Dickie says.
athletics
“They learn to be away from home; learn about correcting first-year mistakes; learn how to become leaders; and then learn how to go out into the real world and make a difference.” The good news, Dickie says, is the bar just keeps on getting higher each year. Someone will provide some form of leadership that hasn’t been seen on campus and that takes the bar up a notch for successive generations. It’s a continuum that connects Acadia’s storied past to the present, through 175 years as an institution, including the important addition of the Arena Complex 25 years ago.
Very high level “Coaches, Athletic Department staff and over 250 student-athletes are tripping over one another every day under one footprint at the Complex,” Dickie says. “It allows us to become family, and I think we all feel that way. We’ve been able to take this family and, through some TLC, take this Complex to a very high level in terms of being proud of it. It’s our colours, our branding. Think, for instance, of the two national championships that have been won (in varsity hockey, 1993 and 1996) in the facility, and the fact that when you walk in, it could very well be one of the nicest rinks in the country.”
Even more impressive are the results of a recent usage audit indicating that the Arena Complex had more than 700,000 visits last year. “It’s definitely a beehive of activity,” Dickie says, and he is committed to improving the facility as much as possible. “There are areas we have to replace as we move along,” he says, “and we need the help of our alumni and the corporate community to continue to move the yardsticks.” It’s simply another way to represent 175 years of excellence. “Our program is highly regarded, with many teams and individuals earning AUS and CIS championships and awards. As important as these are, even more gratifying to me is the fact that 91 of our student-athletes were named Academic AllCanadians last year. We have the highest per capita ratio of Academic All-Canadians in the country, which clearly demonstrates the quality and commitment of the men and women who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of athletic and academic achievement at Acadia. “We’re winning Atlantic championships right now,” he adds, “but we need to strive to win more and continue to understand our role in this community. Now is the time to connect the past with the present and to remember that outstanding legacy as we work to leave our mark on the University today.”
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Athletics
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he 1981 Acadia University Axemen football team was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The following is a retrospective of their remarkable championship experience: Going into the Canadian College Bowl (now the Vanier Cup) this team was a 22-point underdog, despite posting a perfect season in Atlantic Canada. The week before the championship game, the Axemen had trounced the Queen’s Golden Gales 40-14 in the Atlantic Bowl. In that contest, Larry Priestnall, who was destined to be named the game’s best player and winner of the prestigious Don Loney trophy, was outstanding as he gained 220 yards on 27 carries, scoring three touchdowns. Quentin Tynes ran for 69 yards and scored a touchdown. Quarterback Steve Repic and Jim DiRenzo, who converted all Acadia majors while adding a 36-yard field goal and two singles, were other Axemen offensive stars. Against the Alberta Golden Bears for the CIAU title, the John Huard-directed charges staged a tremendous comeback to win their second national football title in three years. Entering the contest as definite underdogs, the Axemen delighted their followers by posting a lastminute 18-12 triumph. In this exciting battle, the Alberta team struck first, registering a 27-yard field goal with only a minute plus remaining in the first quarter. The Axemen countered late in the second quarter with a DiRenzo field goal that was quickly followed by a 64-yard Repic to Hubert Walsh TD pass with only 1:18 remaining in the half. In the second half, the Golden Bears overcame an 11-3 first-half deficit as they scored a 66-yard touchdown with 10 minutes to play. Then, with 2:35 remaining, Reg Gilmour kicked a 22-yard field attempt wide but through the end zone, giving Alberta an apparent winning point. The Axemen, however, in one of their most courageous comebacks ever, put together a touchdown march as Repic completed four consecutive passes, three of which went
Athletics
Outstanding football team inducted into NS Sport Hall of Fame to Don Clow for a total of 52 yards, allowing the Atlantic Conference champs to advance to the Alberta 21. Halifax native Tynes then added the final action to a dramatic script, running the ball for 19 yards and capping off his heroics with a two-yard touchdown run – giving the Axemen an 18-12 margin and ultimate victory. More than half of this team was homegrown, which was uncommon in this era. They were one of six teams in Nova Scotia history to win the National Championship and one of only 13 teams in CIS history to complete an undefeated season. That year Repic was League MVP and College Bowl MVP; Tynes was Rookie of the Year, Stuart MacLean was Defensive Player of the Year; and Huard was Coach of the Year. Stuart MacLean, Tom Johnson and Chris Rhora were CIS All-Canadians and Huard was the CIS Top Coach. Players: Colum Armstrong, Ron Arsenault, Rod Barton, Alex Callus, Dave Clark, Don Clow, Mike Cox, Stephen Comeau, David Conrad, Steve Crane, John Davies, Darrell Dempster, Mike DeWare, Jim Direnzo, Brian Fraser, Nader Haddad, David Haley, Alan Hartley, Lee Hodgkins, Tom Johnson, Dave Joudrey, Joseph Joyce, John Knowles, Ross Langley, Bill Little, Scott MacLean, Stuart MacLean, Stephen Margeson, Nick Matejuk, Ron Meech, Stephen Moran, Tony Munden, Larry Priestnall, Steve Repic, Chris Rhora, Donald Roach, Ernesto Salamone, Vincenzo Salamone, Keith Skiffington, Steve Smith, Bob Trainor, Bruce Tufts, Quentin Tynes, Hubert Walsh, George Watkinson, George Wenk, Jim Williams. Coaches: John Huard, David Hirsch, Bill Hurley, Phil Hurley, Wayne MacDonald, Bill MacLeod, Dan McNally, Dan Palov, Tony Stewart. Trainers: Jim MacLeod, Heather MacGowan Team Doctor: Dr. David Simms Managers: Mike MacKay, Brian Auger.
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Photo: Sandra Symonds
Athletics
Remarkable team, athletes, builders welcomed to Acadia Sports Hall of Fame
Pictured above are this year’s Inductees and dignitaries: (back row, left to right) Acadia’s Director of Athletics Kevin Dickie, Norm Batherson, George Dupont, 1992 hockey team assistant coach Mark Hanneman (’82), Duane Dennis, Jeff MacLeod, Marv Allemang, Bob Cameron, and University President Ray Ivany; (front row) Acadia Axemen head hockey coach and 1992 team member Darren Burns (’95), Roberta Thomson, 1992 hockey team manager Mike Smith (’93), 1992 hockey team assistant coach Mike Alcoe, 1992 head hockey coach Tom Coolen, Sonny Wolfe, Penney Gaul, and President of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University, Hugh Bray (’75).
By Fred Sgambati (’83)
A
n outstanding collection of athletes, builders and coaches were inducted into the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 19 as part of Homecoming Weekend 2013. Gridiron greats set the tone for the evening in Festival Theatre with CIAU All-Canadian Marv Allemang (’75) and CIAU Player of the Year Bob Cameron (’77) being welcomed in the Athlete category, and three-time AUS championship-winning head coach Sonny Wolfe
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inducted as a Builder. Outstanding swimmers and Acadia Female Athletes of the Year Penney Gaul (’80) and Roberta Thomson (’79) were inducted as Athletes, and AUAA champions and national finalists the 1992 Acadia hockey Axemen took their place in the Hall in the Team category. Team members George Dupont (’92), Duane Dennis (’94), Norm Batherson (’94) and Jeff MacLeod (’96) were also inducted as Athletes.
Pictured (left to right) at the anniversary event are: Dr. Tom Herman, VP Academic; Dr. Ernest Zinck (’57); Dr. John Roscoe (’65); Dr. Abdullah (Abbey) K. Kirumira; Dr. Hermes Chan; Dr. John Murimboh (Head, Dept. of Chemistry); and University President Ray Ivany.
Chemistry Dept. celebrates centennial! By Fred Sgambati (’83)
T
he Chemistry Department celebrated its 100th Anniversary this year as an independent department of Acadia University. As part of the celebrations to mark this milestone, alumni and friends gathered at a special 100th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, August 13, 2013. The Honorable Kelvin Ogilvie (CM, PhD, DSc, FCIC, HCol), Senator, Member of the Order of Canada (1991), past President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University (1993-2003), Professor Emeritus, and alumnus (’63) opened the ceremonies. The department also awarded honorary degrees to former chemistry professor Dr. Abdullah Kirumira and Dr. Hermes Chan (BSc ’88, honours upgrade ’89, and MSc ’91). Dr. Chan is the recipient of a number of national and international awards and the principal inventor of MedMira’s patented rapid flow-through diagnostic
technology platform. In 1993, he co-founded MedMira in Halifax, N.S. out of an intense passion for science and the desire to create rapid, cost-effective diagnostic tests that improve health care on a global scale. Today, MedMira’s diagnostic solutions are internationally recognized for their quality, speed, and accuracy. As a scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur, Dr. Kirumira has been described as “the pioneer of Nova Scotia’s biotechnology sector.” Born in Uganda, Kirumira and his family moved to Nova Scotia, where he taught biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Acadia University and was the founding professor of medical biotechnology at the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University. In 1999, he founded BioMedica Diagnostics Inc., a medical biotechnology company and a leader in medical diagnostics.
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ALumni News
Photo: Scott Roberts
Share your news with us!
Submit a class note to tell us about a new job, recent promotion or award, wedding or family addition. Deadlines for submissions are April 1st for the spring issue and October 1st for the fall issue. Class notes are subject to editing. Office of Advancement: 512 Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Canada Email: alumni.office@acadiau.ca Phone: 902.585.1459 Toll Free: 1.866.222.3428 Fax: 902.585.1069
1940s
really changed in all these years. (Submitted by daughter Susan Allen for Jean McLennan (Weatherup) Allen)
1950s
JEAN MCLENNAN (Nee WEATHERUP) ALLEN stopped by Acadia University to visit and reminisce 70 years after she attended there in 1943-44 (Arts). Standing by the stairs to University Hall, she raised her cane in a cheer as she reminisced about leaving home (Campbellton, NB) at the young age of 17 to attend Acadia. Jean’s visit was one of the “must-dos” on her list as our three generations - five girls (herself, two daughters and two granddaughters) - toured Nova Scotia for 10 days in July. After a visit to the chapel (greeted by University Chaplain Tim McFarland), we drove around the campus and she pointed out the locations of her residence, the men’s residences, dining hall and where different classes were held. We were delighted to hear her stories of university life back in the 1940s. Knowing that although much has changed in our world (remember, when she attended, WWII was still the major world issue!), the excitement of leaving home, the adventures of university students and the friendships forged have not 36
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MAXINE (MURRAY) STEWART (’51, with a Music ‘A’) sent us this wonderful photo taken at the Tully Tea on March 24, 2013. Maxine, with CLARA (NOWLAN) JEFFERSON (’48, with the Debating ‘A’) and RUTH (LEVINE) LELACHEUR (’49, with a Literary ‘A’), proudly show off the Golden A’s they earned during their years at Acadia. “For those who don’t know,” she writes, “each ‘discipline’ had a differently styled A and we earned them by our work in those fields, be it Literary, Athletics, Drama, Music. Even after all these years, we still wear them with great Acadia pride!” And look pretty good doing it, too! Thanks for sharing, Maxine. Stand Up and Cheer!
1960s Senator DONALD H. OLIVER (’60, BAH), received his fifth honourary degree last spring. Saint Mary’s University honoured him with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (honoris
LIBBY BURNHAM (’60), Chancellor of Acadia University, was granted membership for life in the Law Society of New Brunswick on July 13, 2013. JAMES H. MORRISON CM, PH.D. (’66, ’67 and Life Vice-President) was recently awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee medal by the LieutenantGovernor of Nova Scotia in a ceremony at Province House. The award was in recognition of Dr. Morrison’s contribution to local history and as a pioneer in the use of oral history in Nova Scotia.
1970s After wandering the barren GTA dessert for 14,546 days, SUSAN (WILSON) CORBETT (BA, BED, ‘71) and JOHN CORBETT (BSC HONOURS ‘72) packed their dolls and dishes and returned home to Nova Scotia to be with their two married children (NATALIE, BSC HONOURS ‘99; and Michael), four grandchildren and John’s 102-year-old mother. John went to TO in ‘72 to attend grad school at the U of T. He worked at Burroughs/Unisys, Systemhouse/EDS, Providence Healthcare, eHealth Ontario and the TD Bank. After 35-plus years, Sue retired as a special-ed teacher with at-risk students within the Peel District Board of Education. A couple of years prior to retirement, Sue was recognized by the Board for her outstanding contribution to education. Decision made with no regrets. Deciding to move after 40 years was difficult and yet, a no-brainer. They can be reached locally at: Sue: suecorbett64@gmail.com; John: jcorbett72@gmail.com DR. STEVE POUND (’72) was recognized as the 2013 recipient of the Gerald N. Levasseur Award, presented by the Maine Adult Education Association, at the Maine Adult Education Conference held at Colby College in June. A Millinocket native, Dr. Pound served as Superintendent of Schools in Greenville following a career in education in Canada. He quickly recognized the importance of adult education to rural Mainers experiencing job loss, and took on the role of director of the Greenville Adult
Class Notes
causa) at its May 17th Convocation for his lifetime achievements in diversity and politics. A wellrespected speaker on topics such as corporate governance, political ethics, Canadian Constitution and election law, Senator Oliver has honorary degrees from Acadia, Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, and York University.
Education program. In 2006, Dr. Pound joined the Cianbro Corporation, serving in various capacities, but most recently as Associate Director for Workforce Development at the Cianbro Institute. This from DONNA-LEIGH GOODMAN (BSC HON ’77; BED ’78): One of my favourite memories of Acadia includes participating in the enjoyable field trips and excursions from 1976 to 1978 organized by Dr. Daryl Grund and Dr. Ken Harrison of the Biology Department. Dr. Grund and Dr. Harrison led the forays as the mycology class “hunted” for mushrooms and other fungi in the wooded Nova Scotian fields. Dr. Grund showed us how to identify multitudes of agarics; Dr. Harrison was particularly adept at finding his favourite boletes. A second fond Acadia remembrance I have is from the Education Department. I loved hearing the stories from Professor Vernon Hiscock (1977-78) as he recounted what it was like to be an educator and teach science in the Maritime outports. It was fascinating to hear how rich and rewarding the experiences were despite the districts having little educational funding and resources. Professor Hiscock greatly influenced my ultimate decision to teach high school chemistry. JAY ATKINSON (‘79) recently published his seventh book, Memoirs Of A RugbyPlaying Man, which includes colourful Acadia stories about the beginning of his 36-year (and still playing) career in the sport. In the book, Atkinson shares fond memories of Acadia classmates, including Bill “Dag” Fullerton, Scott Riddell, Ron Martin, Drew Cooper, Marjorie MacDonald, Terry Tapak, Rob Murray, and others. “I left out scaling the exterior of the Manning Chapel, and the night Dave Barnes and I delivered steak - in the form of a live cow - to the Axe, but there’s other funny stuff in there,” says Atkinson. He teaches writing at Boston University and can be reached at jaya@bu.edu
1980s
On April 26th, the Regional Director General, Canada Border Services Agency, presented the
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Class Notes
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal to STEPHEN JOHNSON (’80) in recognition of his work with the Agency as well as his community involvement during his 32-year career. In particular, the medal was presented in recognition of Stephen’s many years of coaching basketball and his involvement in church activities. He has since retired from the Public Service and is enjoying some leisure time with his wife Rebecca. KIM MEECHAN (‘80) is happy to return to Nova Scotia after being away for 28 years. Having worked in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Kim has settled in Halifax and is looking forward to reconnecting with her Acadia classmates. DAVID DUPLISEA (BBA ’80) was named Executive Director of the Saint John Board of Trade in July 2013. A native of Saint John, David has more than 20 years of marketing, business development and technology industry experience and has held senior executive positions in Saint John, New York and Toronto. An experienced small business entrepreneur, David was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of Propel ICT, where he helped design the business model that propelsj implemented to establish a business technology incubator in New Brunswick. He most recently served as a Policy Advisor in Renewable Energy and Energy Innovation, and Senior Advisor in Smart Grid Technology and Innovation with the New Brunswick Department of Energy. David’s top priority will be to further the Saint John Board of Trade’s mission to make Saint John the best place in Canada to start, run and grow a business. In an age of technology, when fledgling entrepreneurs frequently launch businesses while they’re still in school, Haivision Network Video founder MIROSLAV (MIRKO) WICHA (’82) is a late bloomer. After graduating in computer science and mathematics from Acadia in 1982, the company’s president, CEO and chairman initially spent 28 years working mostly in sales and management for high-tech companies such as Alias Research Inc., Silicon Graphics International Corp., and HewlettPackard Development Co., before becoming an entrepreneur. Haivision is the first company he has built from the ground up.
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HEATHER MCTAVISH (‘83) recently graduated from Transpersonal Psychotherapy Training. Her practice in Mind/ Body Medicine has a focus on trauma, injury and loss.
PAUL OLSHEFSKY (‘85) has worked for Parks Canada in the Resource Conservation Section since graduation in 1985. He was a Search and Rescue specialist in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and also instructor of Visitor Safety for Parks Canada’s National Training Unit in Jasper, Alberta, for many years. Paul is currently on assignment for Parks Canada at National Headquarters in Gatineau, QC, where he is the National Advisor for Parks Canada’s Visitor Safety Program. He sits on two national Search and Rescue committees and continues as an instructor for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), and has represented Parks Canada at Search and Rescue conferences, both nationally and internationally. Paul is the recipient of the Search and Rescue Achievement Award presented by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat of Canada. Paul and his wife, ELSEBETH OLSHEFSKY (‘85), are enjoying everything the Ottawa/Gatineau region has to offer and Paul is looking forward to retiring from Parks Canada in 2014 to pursue new interests. He can be reached at olshefskyp@gmail.com SHELLEY FLECKENSTEIN (’85 BSC) was named recently to PROFIT magazine’s W100 list of Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs for 2013. This is the fifth year in a row that she has earned a place on the list. Shelley was also named in May of this year one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine.
Acadia: not only about book learning
Class Notes
Proud mum CINDY JAMES ’87 celebrates with her daughter Marki Wong, a Kine graduate 2013.
BY LEA STORRY (’95)
1990s DR. TREVOR JAIN (’93), who is an emergency physician, EMS medical director, flight surgeon and CRBN specialist, was presented with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal by the Province of Quebec for his work with military veterans in that province. His mother, MRS. JUNE JAIN (’78, ’93), was presented with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal last fall by Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison in a ceremony at GrandPre to honour her teaching career of 43 years. The award also recognized her continued contribution in the teaching of art in a local school and working at Valley Regional Hospital as a volunteer. ALLAN MACDONALD (BBA ’92) was appointed president of Canadian Tire Retail in May 2013. Responsible for over 485 ‘red triangle’ retail store locations across Canada, Allan oversees all aspects of the company’s operations, including merchandising, marketing, supply chain, information technology, automotive, digital and social integration, store operations and dealer relations. Prior to joining Canadian Tire Corporation, Allan held senior roles at Bell Canada, Aliant Inc. and British Telecom in the United Kingdom. Allan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Acadia University and an MBA from Henley Management College in England.
I don’t remember many of my classroom lessons at Acadia. Of course, the knowledge my professors imparted during my four years shaped my mind and gave me intellectual instruction for the future. However, most of my education at Acadia was the life experience kind of learning: the stuff that takes place outside the lecture hall. My first week at Acadia is a memory that has stayed with me over the past 20 years. Moving my things into Seminary House alongside my high school friend and about-to-be roommate, I was taking a big step. Leaving my parents’ home for a co-ed dorm where I could start being independent – along with about 90 others. As a Sem frosh I was put right into the mix of silly activities and a getting-to-knowyou game where I met a lifelong friend (I was in his wedding party in September). From that beginning, I felt like I was part of something bigger than just going to school. Classes are small at Acadia, which makes it easy to spot those sharing your schedule. After a couple of days of lectures, one woman introduced herself to me. She said we had three classes in common: intro to political science; English; and one more that I can’t remember now. Ah, si - it was Spanish. We became instant friends and joined with four more girls to become the Posse (yes, we named ourselves). We talked, danced, laughed and cried over lots of boys. As frosh we felt so grown-up. But as each year passed, we realized we had been so young. At the end of my fourth year we knew the lay of the land – the campus from the BAC to Eaton House. We knew 8:30 a.m. classes were hard to attend, but so were 1:30 p.m. classes on Fridays. We knew which meals at McConnell Hall were the tastiest and which were not. We knew if your crush wasn’t at the Anvil, he’d be at the Axe. We knew university was hard work, but reality was going to be harder. We knew that from that first day we had built a strong base of support through friendships and knowledge. Acadia taught us that we could do anything.
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Class Notes
A joyful reunion was held at the James home in Moncton, NB in May with a visit by Kenneth Njuguna from Thika, Kenya. Kenneth returned to Canada after 23 years to see his son graduate from Crandall University. Pictured left to right are: SANDRA (BROWNLEE) VINCENT (‘90), KEVIN VINCENT (‘90), TERRY BREWER (‘90), TODD MACLEOD (‘90), KENNETH NJUGUNA (‘90), GORDON JAMES(‘88), DEBBIE (SOMERVILLE) JAMES (‘89). Absent from photo: TROY DENNIS (‘93, ’94) AND DEBRA POLEY (‘83).
SCOTT SULLIVAN (’96) and his wife Tammy are happy to announce the arrival of their son, Casey James Sullivan, born on July 14, 2012.
After 13 years at Deloitte, MATT BAILEY (BBA ’96) was promoted to Partner to take on a new role in Singapore and build the organization’s Financial Services Consulting business in Southeast Asia. He moved with his wife Steph and daughter Georgia in October 2012 from London, England and, so far, loves their new city with its hot weather, great access to exciting countries in Asia and proximity to his wife’s family in Australia. Since 1997, Matt has worked with Deloitte in 17 countries, including long stints in London, Brussels and Toronto. He focuses on helping banks and insurance companies grow their revenues, reduce their costs and restructure their businesses. He says it is super exciting and covers all countries in Southeast Asia, from Indonesia to the Philippines. His Acadia network is still strong and, since moving, Matt has reconnected with the following Singapore-based alumni: Adam Miller (’92), who teaches at the American International School in Singapore; Jason Tay (’96); and Clive Anderson (’93).
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Bluteau DeVenney, a regional leader in organizational strategic and leadership development, recently announced the promotion of JAMIE O’NEILL (’98) to the position of President. The promotion is the next step in O’Neill’s 16-year evolution as a management consultant – the last seven with Bluteau DeVenney – and will have her oversee the sales, delivery, and implementation of Bluteau DeVenney’s current suite of programs. The role sees O’Neill take over for founder MICHAEL DEVENNEY (’85), who has stepped up to the role of CEO with the firm, allowing him to focus more on client work and the strategic development of the firm and its programs. Mason (5) and Noel (3), along with their parents, JOSLYN (MOORE) DURANT (‘98) and DR. MATTHEW DURANT (‘99), associate professor in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics and head coach of women’s varsity rugby at Acadia, are pleased to announce the newest addition to the Durant clan, Cole Lucas, born January 10, 2013. Our family resides near Canning, N.S., where we breed Labrador Retrievers. We can be contacted at www. labridgekennels.com.
2000s JONATHAN (JAKE) K. MCMURRAY (2000) had no idea his life was about to change when he and his two friends jumped in the car for the long drive back to Nova Scotia to complete his fouryear English degree at Acadia University. August 29th, 1995 was like any other day that summer, except this was the day Jake’s life as he knew it would cease to exist. Heading east on the Trans-Canada highway, humming along to the Rheostatics, the car suddenly
TIM FORMUZIEWICH (BBA 2000) is a managing partner with Brookfield in Brazil. He lives in Rio, and is also active with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. LORI MCEACHERN (BSCH ‘03) and ADAM MACNEIL (BSCH ‘03) were married on April 18, 2013. They were thrilled to be joined by friends and family for an unforgettable beach wedding in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. The two met at Acadia, where they both lived in Crowell Tower and studied biology. They currently reside in Halifax, Nova Scotia. CHRISTOPHER R. GRAHAM (BBA ’04) has started a consultancy called Yours, as ever (www. yoursasever. com), specializing in research, writing and thinking for boutique professional service firms. Based in Toronto with outposts in Oxford, Dublin, and Chicago. Bacon barons MIKE KENNEDY (’05) and Louis Brill opened the Canadian Bacon Cookhouse at Queens
Landing on the Halifax waterfront in June, 2013. Their culinary specialties included bacon sandwiches made with a combination of three locally produced bacons (peameal, back bacon and maple smoked bacon strips) and bacon lollipops (milk chocolate-covered maple bacon on a stick). Mike, a former Associated Alumni of Acadia University Board member, is a Chartered Accountant in Halifax and the co-founder of Halifax Awesome Foundation (with Colette O’Hara ’03).
Class Notes
flipped. Jake was ejected at over 100 km/hr, landing perfectly on the centre median on his head, like a ragdoll tossed out by an impetuous child. The fact he survived the accident alone is a miracle, but it would prove to be the beginning and the end of Jonathan K. McMurray. Mind the Gap is the raw, no-holds-barred story about one boy’s tumultuous journey: a journey intertwined with his passion for music, which became the life raft that carried him through the abyss of brain injury to a place where he was finally able to find peace in his new life - a place he could call home, as a man, husband and father. Mind The Gap (Three Dogs Press) will be available in November 2013 through independent retailers nationwide. Signed, pre-ordered copies can be purchased now at: www.threedogspress.ca.
KAREN BLAIR (’07, MSC) tells us that after completing her PhD in Psychology at Queen’s University, she received a post-doctoral fellowship to conduct research at the University of Utah with Dr. Lisa Diamond. Her latest research is focusing on the psychophysiology of prejudice within the context of prejudicial responses to same-sex public displays of affection: What is it that makes people go from seeing gay, to seeing red? “It is our hope that this research will contribute to the development of interventions to effectively reduce prejudice and subsequent hate crimes. Those interested in learning more about this project can do so through my research website: http://www.klbresearch.com or http://www.endhatecrime.com.” She also got engaged and is planning a winter wedding after her return from Utah! MAYA (DAVIS) MCINTOSH (‘07) and FRANKIE MCINTOSH (‘05) are pleased to announce the birth of their glorious son, Rock, on August 6, 2012. Following an amazing home birth, Rock continues to thrive and create happy moments in the lives of his parents. The couple wed in their beautiful island home of Bermuda in April 2010. The family invites you to experience many of their worldwide adventures by visiting their travel blog at: www.bermudaglobetrotters.com
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2010s
Photo: Miranda Collins
Class Notes
SCOTT MACDONALD (’07 BSC) and Jaclyn MacAdam were married on July 13th, 2013 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Since graduating, Scott received his BEd from Mount Saint Vincent and has been teaching in the Arctic, in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, since 2010 (with Jaclyn, who is also a teacher). He is currently pursuing a MEd Leadership at Acadia.
On June 12, 2013, LARISSA LAW (BAH ’10) was awarded the NSCC Faculty of Business-Public Relations award for professionalism. From left to right: Amanda MacDonald, Shelley Murphy, and Larissa Law. (Photo below: Carol Law) Soprano ROSANNA HARRIS (’12) has won the Portia White Award for voice through a Nova Scotia Talent Trust Award late last year. English-born, Harris moved to Wolfville, N.S., where she received a vocal performance degree from Acadia. She is currently working on a Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England.
Delightful cruise! Sixty-six Acadia alumni and friends boarded the tall ship Silva on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013 for the annual Acadia Alumni Halifax Harbour Cruise. It was a beautiful evening to enjoy great company as the vessel sailed around George’s Island, beneath the brilliantly lit MacDonald and MacKay bridges, and cruised by the display of lights lining the Halifax and Dartmouth waterfronts. It was exciting to see so many young alumni attend the event, as they made up over 60 per cent of the crowd. Representing, from left to right, are: Alisha Webb (’13), Britney Pettipas (’13), Olivia Cox (’13) and Meaghan Mousseau (’13). To view our photo gallery, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/acadiauniversity/ sets/72157635182789791/with/9571657540/
You don’t get to be this age without learning a few new talents along the way. At Open Acadia, we’re proud to
· Over 100 online undergraduate courses
contribute to Acadia’s 175-year
· Acadia Lifelong Learning for adults age 50+
legacy by offering students more ways to learn. We’re expanding the Acadia University experience with
· Teacher education programs on-campus and beyond · Four terms of intersession courses each summer · English for Academic Purposes language program · And more!
courses on-campus, off-campus, and online.
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1.800.565.6568 openacadia.ca
Acadia remembers We are saddened to report the following deaths in the Acadia community:
Ruby May Thompson (’26), Windsor, NS Mary F. Brown (’39), Moncton, NB Mary Price (’41), Wolfville, NS Donald V. Hambling (’41), Kentville, NS Duncan N. Stuart (’42), Calgary, AB Charles L. Roberts (’45), St. John’s, NL Arthur H. Shears (’46), Halifax, NS Evelyn H. Bickerton (’46) Bras D’or, NS William T. Windeler (’47), Simcoe, ON Arthur M. Dechman (’47), Pleasantville, NS George A. Crowe (’47), Topsfield, MA Rankine B. Dow (’47), Berwick, NS Frank L. Whitman (’48), Middleton, NS Walter Theodore Hatfield (’48), Calgary, AB Eric B. Kinsman (’48), Kinderhook, NY Eric D. Mosher (’48), Truro, NS Gavin C. Windeler (’48), Burlington, ON Donald M. Schurman (’49), Victoria, BC Shirley B. Chute (’49), Berwick, NS John Munroe MacKenney (’49), Shelburne, NS Reginald C. Crosby (’50), Waverley, NS Frederick W. Denton (’51), Little River, NS Edward A. James (’52), Calgary, AB Brooke Sheldon (’52), Santa Fe, NM Robert M. Shaw (’53), Truro, NS John C. MacDonald Sr. (’54), Ottawa, ON J. H. Stuart Dyson (’54), Berwick, NS Ivor P. F. MacLeod (’54), Innisfil, ON Barbara J. Ploeg (’59), Kanata, ON M. Geraldine McLeod (’59), Clearbrook, BC Walter O. Newton (’64), Port Williams, NS
G. Karen Bedard (’65), Calgary, AB C. Dianne Webb (’65), Moncton, NB Gordon Boyd Richardson (’67), North Wilkesboro, NC Orren W. Carey (’69), Avonport, NS William Marshall Bishop (’70), Wolfville, NS Alexander Colville (’75), Wolfville, NS Daniel Lewis Cochrane (’80), Dartmouth, NS Virginia Jean Campbell (’84), Windsor Junction, NS Joan E. Cormier (’86), Halifax, NS Margaret Rideout (’93), Moncton, NB Shawn Donald Holmesdale (’96), Kingston, NS John W. Dobson (’03), Montreal, QC Ruth Goldbloom (’05), Halifax, NS Matthew Philip Kohlenberg, Calgary, AB Walter McCowan, Toronto, ON Peter G. Townley, Wolfville, NS George Alton Biddington (Horton Academy), Moncton, NB Morton Melvin Attis (Horton Academy), Moncton, NB Darrell Willis MacLeod (Horton Academy), Truro, NS Marion R. Cool (Horton Academy), Campbellton, NB Richard E. Benjamin, New Minas, NS Frances Whidden, Port Williams, NS Audrey Steeves Correction: In the Spring 2013 Acadia Remembers list, John D. Hill’s Class year was misidentified. John D. Hill, Class of 1956, passed away on April 6, 2013.
ACADIA BULLETIN Fall 2013
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final frame
In each edition of the Bulletin, we reserve space on our final page for a fond look back at the way we were. Do you know the person in this photo? If so, send me an e-mail at fred. sgambati@acadiau.ca. The first person to identify him will win an Acadia sweatshirt (valued at $70.00). Please include your name, address, e-mail and phone number in your response. We will reveal the answer, the winner and have another image for you in the spring edition. Look forward to hearing from you.
Have fun! 44
ACADIA BULLETIN Fall 2013
Final frame
Final Frame Winner
Photo: Fre
d Sgamba
ti
Mary Anne Gillighan (’80) was the first to correctly identify the Final Frame photo in the spring 2013 edition of the Bulletin. Mary Anne, who lives in Clarence, N.S., identified Deborah Jackson (’81) to claim the prize. Mary Anne, a former Tully girl, also tells us that her daughter Rebecca Bauer is a 2013 grad and her son, Michael Bauer, lives in Chase and is a third-year physics student.
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