StFX Alumni News - Fall 2023

Congratulations to the Class of 1973 Homecoming 2o23

Bernadette Allen

Carmel Bailey

Francine Artichuk

Valerie Bobyk

Debbie Arnason

Therese Beaubien Eileen Blair

Jim Aucoin

Diane Boulanger

Mary Callaghan Donald Cameron Monica Callaghan

Donald Campbell

Tish Campbell Lorna Carroll-Plemel

Philip Connolly Martin Chisholm Frances Chisholm

Debbie Cooney

Mary Dickinson

Lawrence Deagle Ena Cousins

Patti Conrad

Mario DiCarlo

Jacqueline Driscoll Brian Driscoll Fred Farrell

Carolyn Fougere Dan Fougere

Kathryn Fleiger

Barbara Giacomin

Steven Ferraro

Sandy Fraser

Michael Gouthro

Martin Fleuren

Louise Gould

James Johnston Margaret Kennedy Derek Kimball

J. Stewart LeForte

Bruce MacDonald

Peggy Leahey

Michael Leahey

Brian MacDonald

Dennis LeBlanc

Colin Patrick MacDonald Irene MacDonald John MacDonald

Len MacDonald Patsy MacDonald Joan MacDonnell

Anne MacKinnon Richard MacKinnon

Anita MacDougall

Christina McLain

Mary MacLennan

Wayne Matthews

Theresa Mancini

Donald M. MacLellan

Rose McDonald

Stephen Murphy Tom O’Sullivan Patrick Pittman

Helen Wedge

Patricia Ryba Leona Williams

Sheilagh A. Ross Ambrose White

Stephanie Tompkins

Hundreds of high school students and their families came from across Canada on Oct. 22, 2023, to see firsthand what life is like as a StFX student as the university hosted its annual Open House, a full, interactive day designed for visiting students to discover all StFX offers, from its outstanding academic programs to student leadership opportunities.

themselves there.

Contents

ON THE COVER

StFX student Colin MacGillivray leads elementary schoolchildren from Paqtnkek Education Centre in a lacrosse lesson as part of Mini U, a pilot program that welcomed the students to campus every Thursday for seven weeks this fall. The students progressed through activities where they experienced different elements of university life.

Features

for 58 years.

With its unique model of education, StFX is encouraging an impressive number of graduate students.

What my X-Ring means to

For the Class of 2024, the countdown is finally over. We talk to two recent X-Ring recipients on what it means to wear the ring.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | ANDREW W. HAKIN, P h D

MUCH TO CELEBRATE IN THE COMING YEAR

As we turn the page to 2024, I reflect on the past year at StFX and the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff. As a community, we have focused on preparing students for tomorrow; on building and creating change; on making a difference. And, it shows.

With the recent alumni celebration of Homecoming in October, I’m cognizant of the legacy that our alumni have created; a legacy that lives on throughout the world. In particular, I think of the tremendous impact of the late Sr. Margaret MacDonell ’54 ’00, who passed in September 2023, just shy of her 103rd birthday, and the imprint her life had on our university and the resurgence of the Celtic

culture and Gaelic language. I am also reminded of the friendships formed here at StFX that have stood the test of time; friendships that last a lifetime. Remembering and celebrating these legacies is important. Our history matters.

In the past year, we celebrated many accomplishments. Among them, we welcomed a research leader of tomorrow, Banting Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Conall Cash to the English Department; senior student Oliver Storseth was recognized nationally as a Rising Star Coach of the Year by Special Olympics Canada; and Dr. Rachel Hurst was recognized by the

Atlantic Association of Universities (AAU) for her excellence in teaching as the recipient of the AAU Distinguished Teaching Award. Such accomplishments highlight the academic and community growth of our institution. Together our faculty and students are creating inspirational experiences that build the reputation of our great institution.

As we welcome new students to campus, I am reminded that they are embarking on an exciting path. The immersive educational experience provided by StFX is special. From campus life to academic scholarship and on to post-graduation opportunities, StFX creates experiences like no other. Our recruitment team had a busy fall season and have connected with many students across Canada and throughout the world. Join us as we support these students through the next phase of their transition to postsecondary. When you meet prospective students, talk about your time at StFX and how it laid the groundwork for where you are today. Alumni are our best recruiters and ambassadors to those around you and the stories of your personal journeys through StFX are powerful. Help us to bring home the incoming class of 2024 to campus.

My wish for the Xaverian family in 2024 is that you constantly offer kindness, compassion, and gratitude, and that you make a positive impact on the communities in which you live. I close with the words of playwright Dr. Djanet Sears ’23, our newest honorary degree recipient, “be kind, it makes all the difference.”

Hail and Health.

Andrew W. Hakin, PhD President & Vice-Chancellor

Dr. Andrew W. Hakin

Dr. Andy Hakin and his wife, Linda Hakin, enjoying a fall evening cheering on the blue and white with StFX VP Finance and Administration Monica Foster ‘90 and Kevin Foster.

Dr. Andy Hakin (left) and StFX Athletic Director Leo MacPherson ’89 (right) are pictured with Margaret Streete and Lori-Ann (Streete) Beausoleil, wife and daughter of the late Laurence Streete ’55, at the StFX Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in October. Mr. Streete was inducted posthumously in the Builder category for his involvement in StFX Rugby, Football, and Hockey.

NEWSFLASH

WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS AND IN THE S t FX COMMUNITY

GETTING TO KNOW DR. RACHEL HURST, AAU DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENT

Congratulations flooded in as the news that StFX Women’s and Gender Studies professor Dr. Rachel Hurst had won the 2023 Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award. With them came poignant testaments to Dr. Hurst’s impact in teaching, in mentoring research and honours students, in creating innovative programming in Women’s and Gender Studies and StFX’s Social Justice Colloquium, and across university life.

What drew you to teaching?

A precious thing about education is that it allows us to try out new things and change our minds. Though it might surprise some, I am shy and often feel anxious anticipating social situations. Soon after I started school, I created an alter-ego, Miss Oaks, who rushed home at day’s end to teach my little sister whatever I’d learned. This alterego provided an outlet to practice being a bolder, more outgoing version of myself. I have felt this about teaching most of my career.

I’m grateful to the students who I have learned from and taught—as time passes, my shy self and my Miss Oaks get closer to each other!

Describe your teaching style.

My desire as an educator is to guide students towards claiming the education they deserve. To me, this is about becoming precise about why they are in university, and then advocating for themselves so that what they learn is related to why they are here. In my classes, we work together to create spaces to do the hard work of making oneself uncomfortable by engaging with ideas that are challenging, sinking into conflict to understand differences rather than avoid them, and having high expectations of one’s professors, one’s classmates, and oneself.

Talk about the new programming in Women’s and Gender Studies. We began the honours program in September 2018, and I am so proud of the work students have accomplished. They’ve completed projects on the relationship between research and non-profit organizations like the Elizabeth Fry Society, creating safe and healthy sexual spaces, the intersection of neurodivergent and queer identities, and the support/mentorship that Black women international students receive transitioning from university to the workforce. More than half have received StFX summer research awards, one is a Pathy Fellowship recipient, and many have undertaken careers in academia, law, and social work.

Former students say you changed their lives. How does that feel? If I’m being honest, a bit overwhelming—and I don’t think they give themselves enough credit!

You can host three guest lecturers, real or fictional. Who are they?

Dionne Brand (poet/living genius) was the Ruth Wynn Woodward Chair in Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University in 2002. I took her course “Writing Feminist, Writing Fiction,” and I still think about her insights on writing, love, and liberation.

Novelist Cherie Dimaline’s lecture An Anthology of Monsters: How Story Saves Us from Our Anxiety (2023) helped me understand how storytelling is a lifeline that can give shape to our personal and collective anxieties in a way that can move us towards action.

Sarah Schulman (activist/author). Importantly, I’ve learned from her writing that we must keep having hard conversations—as in, talk and listen to each other.

Dr. Rachel Hurst, StFX Women’s and Gender Studies professor, and recipient of the 2023 Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award.

HELPING THE BEST GOLFERS ON THE PLANET

StFX professor Dr. Sasho MacKenzie helping pro golfers win top titles.

For over 17 years, Dr. Sasho MacKenzie has been working with professional and Olympic athletes on their training techniques and biomechanics, becoming the go-to person for golfers wanting to improve their swing. This year, the StFX human kinetics professor helped pro golfer Viktor Hovland win the FedExCup (and its $18 million purse) and Matt Fitzpatrick the prestigious RBC Heritage Classic.

“It’s encouraging to know that the application of my scientific efforts can help the best golfers on the planet,” says Dr. MacKenzie, a golf performance consultant who works with both Mr. Hovland and Mr. Fitzpatrick on their swing mechanics and clubhead speed.

“I spend my time studying the golf swing and optimal training methods,” says Dr. MacKenzie, who garnered top recognition in 2022 when Mr. Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2022 US Open, publicly

credited Dr. MacKenzie with transforming his ability to generate clubhead speed.

Dr. MacKenzie’s speed training system called “The Stack” worked wonders for Mr. Fitzpatrick’s long drive. The program uses a weighted club that can be manipulated to allow the golfer to do overload and over-speed training, and can be paired with a training app that builds programs customized to the golfer. Dr. MacKenzie co-founded The Stack System with Marty Jertson, VP of Fitting and Innovation at Ping, a golf company.

Dr. MacKenzie acts as engineer consultant for Ping and is also a biomechanics advisor and software developer for Footjoy, another golf company. He has published more than 20 golf-related articles in a variety of journals.

Not only has Dr. MacKenzie made waves in the golfing world, he’s also travelled to Arizona for Major League Baseball’s spring training at the request of the Los Angeles Dodgers to fit hitters with the most appropriate bat for them. He’s also worked with the Texas Rangers, of the American League.

Says Dr. MacKenzie, “Conducting and publishing scientific research is very enjoyable, but being asked to apply your research and knowledge at the highest level of sport has been particularly satisfying.”

Viktor Hovland and Dr. Sasho MacKenzie

Matt Fitzpatrick and Dr. Sasho MacKenzie

For his contributions to golf science, Ping Golf awarded Dr. Sasho MacKenzie (left) a gold putter—a replicate of the Ping putter Dr. MacKenzie used to win the Antigonish Club Championship in 2020. Pictured with Dr. MacKenzie is Dr. Paul Wood, VP of Engineering at Ping.

RESEARCH LEADER OF TOMORROW: StFX WELCOMES FIRST BANTING

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

StFX has welcomed Dr. Conall Cash, recipient of one of the country’s most prestigious awards, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, to campus.

“Having Dr. Cash join St. Francis Xavier University as a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow is a wonderful achievement for our academic community,” says Dr. Richard Isnor, StFX Associate Vice-President Research, Graduate and Professional Studies. “Very few small, primarily undergraduate universities have been successful in the highly competitive Banting application process, but the high quality

of Dr. Cash’s research proposal and the strong support of (StFX English professor) Dr. Michael D’Arcy and the Department of English were instrumental to this success.”

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarded by the Government of Canada to exceptional scholars and research leaders of tomorrow, provides $140,000 in funding over two years and is intended to attract and retain top-tier talent both nationally and internationally.

“Having this time to research is a great privilege,” says Dr. Cash, who arrived at StFX from the University of Melbourne, where he was an Early Career Academic Fellow in French Studies.

Dr. Cash received his PhD in French Studies from Cornell University. He’s broadly interested in modernism and avant-garde literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. Dr. Cash is particularly interested in narrative form and the relationship between literature and cinema, and is currently working on a book related to his dissertation, on narratives of impersonality.

“I’m tracing the history of this kind of narrative from the 19th century onward, and asking, ‘Why is this something we would want to do – to construct a work of fiction in which the human or personal element is subtracted to an extreme point?’”

As part of his fellowship, Dr. Cash is looking forward to bringing in guest lecturers and organizing a small conference related to his research interests around modernist literature and the crisis of the self. StFX is fortunate to count Dr. Cash among its faculty.

ADDRESSING COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING DISPARITIES IN NOVA SCOTIA

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in Canada and the Atlantic provinces have some of the highest numbers of new cases and deaths. Screening can reduce mortality by preventing and/or catching the disease early. But in Nova Scotia, the screening participation rate remains low, around 41 per cent.

StFX Interdisciplinary Health professor Dr. Arlinda Ruco has been awarded a Canadian Cancer Society Emerging Scholar Research Grant (valued at $594,197) and is leading a team working to identify whether certain groups may be less likely to participate in colorectal cancer screening and to co-design potential interventions to improve uptake.

The Nova Scotia Colon Cancer Prevention Program (NSCCPP) was implemented in 2009 and people aged 50-74 are sent a screening kit in the mail every two years. Dr. Ruco will collaborate with and use data from the NSCCPP to identify colorectal cancer screening disparities in Nova Scotia and explore barriers and enablers to screening.

Dr. Ruco—also an Adjunct Scientist, Women’s College Hospital; Associate Member, Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute; and Affiliate Scientist at Nova Scotia Health and VHA Home HealthCare—will engage a patient/community advisory group throughout as part of the research team. “This work is also aligned with the Health Equity Framework for Nova Scotia and focuses on improving outcomes for people who may experience poorer health in the province,” she says.

“Almost every single person will be affected by cancer in their lifetime in one way or another. Cancer screening allows us to prevent the disease altogether or diagnose it in the early stages when treatment may be more effective,” Dr. Ruco says.

“This funding is instrumental for my career as a cancer screening scientist. It will allow me to build the foundation for an innovative program of research focused on cancer screening and prevention in Nova Scotia and in maximizing outcomes for individuals that may experience worse outcomes.”

Dr. Conall Cash, recipient of one of the country’s most prestigious awards, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Dr. Arlinda Ruco, awarded a Canadian Cancer Society Emerging Scholar Research Grant

StFX student Max Benham with students from Paqtnkek Education Centre.

WHERE I BELONG

MINI U OPENING THE DOORS TO UNIVERSITY

BY SHELLEY CAMERON-MCCARRON

Peals of laughter echoed joyously in the crisp October air as over 20 elementary schoolchildren from Paqtnkek Education Centre, from the nearby Mi’kmaw community of Paqtnkek, played on the StFX turf field. They were learning the traditional Indigenous game of lacrosse, Canada’s official sport.

Their teachers—StFX human kinetic students—led drills and stood ready in nets around the field.

“Nice job! Awesome shot!” cheered second-year human kinetics student and national junior lacrosse champion, Max Benham, of Athabasca, AB, as he knelt on the turf and high-fived a young girl he’d been teaching to score. “Bring this hand down, and point at where you’re shooting,” he instructed gently.

The fun and learning came compliments of Mini U, a pilot program organized by StFX human kinetics professor Dr. Amanda Casey. Mini U welcomed the Paqtnkek Education Centre students to campus every Thursday for seven weeks throughout October and November 2023.

“They see all these different things and learn about university.” Dr. Casey explained, when asked about the idea for Mini U. “They see that they belong here.”

While on campus, the students progressed through scheduled activities that helped them experience different elements of university life. Each day started with presentations (ranging from animal behaviour to climate change) followed by lunch in Morrison Hall and fun exercises with human nutrition students about healthy foods. Finally, they had their lacrosse lessons and then one-on-one tutoring led by StFX students.

While the children learned, so too did the StFX students who led the sessions. In particular, they became more familiar with Indigenous culture while acknowledging that the campus is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.

Dr. Casey, who works with the community for individuals with disabilities through her Motor Activities with X labs, conceived of Mini U as an alternative to the MAX programs she usually offers in the StFX pool, temporarily closed due to the Saputo Centre renovations.

She also wanted to start a culturally-relevant program that demonstrates to potential first-generation university students what

it’s like to attend university. As StFX is working to Indigenize more of its course content (including the lacrosse instruction Dr. Casey added), she imagined Mini U partnering with others across campus who are interested in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

“What excites me most is providing an opportunity to experience what university is like, so they can envision themselves here,” says Dr. Casey.

“I’m a first generation university student. I learned about university through both sport and academics. That opened the door for me. I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise.”

She’s hoping to open many doors for the children, and to better prepare the next generation of educators (our StFX students) for engaging with under-resourced communities. “Those are the educators you need,” Dr. Casey said.

SO MUCH FUN

“This is so much fun,” says Mr. Benham, who is a student in Dr. Casey’s adaptive physical education class, a member of the StFX lacrosse club team, and a member of the Edmonton Warriors junior team that won last year’s national title. He wants to be a teacher and said the experience has been great. At the same time,

As part of Mini U, the elementary students learned about healthy foods with StFX nutrition students.

“It’s important at this age, starting so young, to create those relationships, which will hopefully be long-lasting.”

Jenna Pierce ’18 ’20

Dr. Amanda Casey wanted to start a culturally relevant program that demonstrates to potential first generation students what it is like to attend university. The result was the pilot program, Mini U. Above, students participate in lacrosse lessons, and at right, in learning more about a healthy diet from nutrition students.

it’s helping the children.

Kailey Brennan, a fourth-year human kinetics student who helped Dr. Casey set up the program, is benefitting from Mini U, too: “I want to be a teacher. I love kids. I worked six years at day camps. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in their lives.”

Mel MacFarlane, who is completing her dietetic internship at StFX, helped organize informal activities that promoted healthy eating. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity and happy to be a part of it,” she says.

CREATING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Jenna Pierce ’18 ’20, a learning support teacher at Paqtnkek Education Centre and a StFX Master of Education student in the Inclusion cohort, agrees that the Mini U is a wonderful opportunity “to make connections between our community and the neighbouring community at StFX, to create relationships and to get to know each other.

“It’s wonderful for our students to have one-on-one support and to create positive relationships. The students are very excited.”

She’s happy to note that some of the StFX students have already

One-on-one tutoring was one of the daily aspects of Mini U.

visited the elementary school in Paqtnkek. “It’s important at this age, starting so young, to create those relationships, which will hopefully be long-lasting.”

As the program grows, Ms. Pierce is hopeful it will build more resources in Paqtnkek, and attract attention from additional departments on campus.

HAPPY FOR HOMEWORK

“The whole day programming is fantastic. They’re getting a little bit of everything,” says Sarah MacLaughlin ’16 ’22, a Grade 1-2 teacher at Paqtnkek Education Centre who did her undergraduate and B.Ed. degrees at StFX.

She says the students often say lacrosse is their favourite part, but surprisingly, so is homework!

“I just like reading with my buddy,” students have told her, happy to have the personal attention from StFX students.

Dr. Casey is already looking forward to next year, amassing further resources and drawing in further partners. She’s excited, she notes, to continue to promote cultural awareness and inclusive education.

SMILE

WE MET AT X

Ten classmates celebrate remarkable 58 years of friendship!

It was September 1965. The Beatles’ Help! was topping charts; Hogan’s Heroes, a WWII television sitcom, had just premiered; and a group of 10 young women met for the first time when they moved into StFX’s Mount St. Bernard residence. In the nearly six decades since, life has changed, trends have come and gone, but the friendship formed in residence remains remarkably close.

“Somebody should have put money on us,” laughs Margaret (Wilson) Wright.

She and her Class of 1968 circle of friends - Isabelle (Curley) Christian, Anne (Beaton) Beaton, Elaine (MacDonald) Tyler, Morag (MacDonald) Graham, Alice Marie Hughes, Doreen (Coolen) Burke, Sheila (Buckle) MacNeil, Mary (Leahey) Crilley and Eileen Hornby - returned to StFX in October to celebrate their 55th reunion at Homecoming.

It’s not the first time they’ve reunited.

In fact, they’ve held more than 20 reunions in locations like Montreal and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Parrsboro and Halifax. They’ve travelled to Toronto to see Come From Away, and have had countless informal get-togethers.

“If you were going somewhere and someone lives there, you wouldn’t dare not phone,” Ms. Wright says.

Indeed, Ms. Beaton remembers when she, her husband, and their five kids were vacationing in PEI and called in on Ms. Christian: “It was like loaves and fishes. She fed all seven of us.”

STFX ALWAYS THE CORE

Arriving at StFX as teenagers from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, they enrolled in different programs: arts, science, and home economics. For the most part, they didn’t know each other (except for two who’d attended Dartmouth High School and two who’d grown up in Port Hood, Cape Breton).

The friendship, Ms. Crilley says, all started in Mount St. Bernard. Six lived on the same floor in Immaculata Hall, another lived a floor below, and the others in Camden.

“It didn’t take long to bond,” says Ms. Beaton, as they gravitated toward each other, drawn by common goals and values. “I guess we like each other,” Ms. Graham says.

Pictured in 1969, in Georgetown, PEI, at the wedding of Isabelle (Curley) Christian are, back row, l-r, Mary (Leahey) Crilley, Alice Marie Hughes, Marg (Wilson) Wright, Ms. Christian, Eileen Hornby, Anne (Beaton) Beaton, Doreen (Coolen) Burke and Morag (MacDonald) Graham.

Kneeling: Sheila (Buckle) MacNeil and Elaine (MacDonald) Tyler.

“It’s almost in here,” Anne Beaton ‘68 says, pointing to her heart, on what the friendship means.

They have fond memories of their student days, when classes were held until noon on Saturdays; when they attended daily mass; when they only had access to one phone at the end of the hallway; and when students weren’t allowed to go home until Thanksgiving.

In residence, the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame were very much part of their lives, they say. The CNDs were strict, but kind; Ms. Graham says that “as women, they made us feel important and that we could achieve.”

BECAME FAST FRIENDS

Living in Immaculata Hall, “which was so small, so controlled, lights out at 9 p.m.” bonded the young women. “We all ate at the cafeteria, we were all in the little rooms, we were all equal,” they say.

They remember eating toast and jam together in their rooms (even though it wasn’t allowed), how cold it was in the building, girls braving ear piercings from fellow students, the night a transformer blew and they ‘baptized’ a fellow student, and, importantly, how friendship is a precious thing.

As students, they visited each other’s homes, had fun outings like sleigh rides, and at graduation, enjoyed lobster that one of their uncles supplied for the celebration.

Of course, there was also the time in 1967 when five of the friends took the train across Canada as part of a centennial project through StFX. They travelled to Penticton, BC, for six weeks to teach religion to Indigenous children.

“We each bought a pack of cigarettes, listened to the radio, and played bingo as we travelled west,” they recall of their cross-country adventure.

CONTINUING FRIENDSHIP

After graduation, Ms. Christian, Ms. Hughes, and Ms. MacNeil lived together for a short time in St. John’s, NL, but soon, like the rest of their circle, life took them in different directions.

How did they keep connected?

“We didn’t let years go by,” says Ms. Hughes.

“StFX was always the core. It brought us together,” says Ms. Graham. “It’s that sense of community that StFX evokes and always has.”

“The values, principles and attitudes that StFX instilled around service and caring about each other remained,” says Ms. Hughes.

“The ember of our continuing friendship, I believe, started with our gathering in 1969 for Isabelle’s wedding,” says Ms. Hornby.

All 10 attended Ms. Christian’s marriage in Georgetown, PEI— their first reunion, a year after they graduated.

As the years passed, they married, had children, moved ahead in careers in teaching, health care, social work, human resources, and government. They didn’t always keep in frequent touch, until they decided the time was right to plan a get-together.

“We cared and care for each other and our respective families. The friendship has deepened and strengthened over the years,” says Ms. Hornby.

At StFX Homecoming 2023, l-r, Sheila (Buckle) MacNeil, Mary (Leahey) Crilley, Alice Marie Hughes, Marg (Wilson) Wright, Isabelle (Curley) Christian, Anne (Beaton) Beaton, Doreen (Coolen) Burke, Elaine (MacDonald) Tyler, Morag (MacDonald) Graham and Eileen Hornby.

Through the decades, they’ve gotten to know each other’s families and lifestyles, the friendship bringing dimension into their lives.

“It’s been a wonderful support, too, through life’s up and downs,” says Ms. Hughes.

“Once we’re together, it’s like we never left off,” adds Ms. Graham.

MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

They’ve hit milestones together, getting glasses and hearing aids around the same time. The group laughs about the time they were at a restaurant and, almost in unison, they each picked up reading glasses to see the menu.

Nine of the 10 attended Ms. MacNeil’s daughter’s wedding. With the fascinator trend in full force at the time, they used hot glue to attach feathers to create their own.

“I was so happy to see them,” Ms. MacNeil recalls. “Later, as I was going down the aisle from communion, I saw all the fascinators. I

almost fainted,” she laughs.

Ms. Hughes says the group of friends is closer to her than some members of her family, and “I value that.”

“We’re very fortunate,” says Ms. Wright.

“It’s almost in here,” Ms. Beaton says pointing to her heart, when describing what the friendship means. “We get a sense of worth from each other.”

They’ve had people say they can’t believe they are still friends after all this time. Ask them, and they’re not surprised.

“No,” the group answers, in unison, without hesitation.

In fact, they’ve never even had a falling out.

“We’re blessed,” says Ms. Crilley.

“Six or seven months might go by after this,” Ms. MacNeil says, “and we might not be in touch, but I know if I got uneasy about something, I could get in touch and they would be there for me. It’s like a family.”

It’s no secret that StFX knits connection and fosters deep bonds in a way that is unique to this institution. We want to hear how you and your friends met and why you stay connected. For a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue, tell us about your story at alumni@stfx.ca, with the subject line “StFX Friendships.”

Getting together in 2008, back row, l-r, are Mary (Leahey) Crilley, Alice Marie Hughes, Marg (Wilson) Wright, Isabelle (Curley) Christian, Eileen Hornby, Anne (Beaton) Beaton, Doreen (Coolen) Burke and Morag (MacDonald) G raham. Kneeling: Sheila (Buckle) MacNeil and Elaine (MacDonald) Tyler.

Time. Talent. Treasure.

There are many ways you can get involved.

Whether it’s taking the time to talk with prospective students about their opportunities at StFX, volunteering your talent and helping the local Alumni Association Chapter, or by giving financially to the university, when StFX alumni are involved, students win.

Get involved today. Contact us to get started.

alumni@stfx.ca (902) 867-2186

REMEMBERING

SR. MARGARET MACDONELL, CND

Sr. Margaret MacDonell, CND (1920-2023), was a lifelong educator, scholar, and staunch champion of the Gaelic language. For decades, she provided her talent and tenacity to StFX, where she served as a professor, chair, and professor emerita in the StFX Celtic Studies Department. A 1954 StFX graduate and 2000 honorary degree recipient, Sr. Margaret also served as principal of the former Mount St. Bernard College.

October 24, 1992. The Blue Jays were playing the Braves in Game 6 of the World Series, and Sister Margaret MacDonell was on a long drive back to Antigonish. She’d been in Boston with her brother, former StFX President Father Malcolm MacDonell ’38 HON ‘92, and their nephew, Calum. Sister Margaret suggested they take hotel rooms for the night, so they could catch the game; when the Jays won, the then-71-year-old nun got up and danced around the room.

Margaret MacDonell, a Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame, was educated at StFX, Columbia, and Harvard Universities. She was an expert in the fields of Gaelic language and Celtic Studies. She was fast friends with former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Allan J. MacEachen ’44 HON ’64. She was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (indeed, she’d been part of the choir that sang for the Queen on her visit to StFX in 1976).

But her niece, Margaret MacKenzie, also remembers Sister Margaret as someone who took a keen interest in her nieces and nephews and later, their children; who was “crazy” about sports; and who wore a self-styled uniform of tidy skirts and boucle jackets –always with a cross. Ms. MacKenzie recalls many meals at Mount Saint Bernard (which was run by the CNDs) when Sister Margaret would invite her sister, Anne, and Anne’s 10 children to dine with her. “My mother would pre-feed the boys,” Ms. MacKenzie recalls, chuckling,

“and hope we’d behave in front of the Sisters.”

Anne’s children were orphaned in 1980, and Ms. MacKenzie, then 14, went to live with an older sister. “It was coming on Christmas,” she remembers, “and Sister Margaret called up and asked if she could come out for a visit. She landed out with a full-on turkey dinner to make sure that we had a Christmas – our first Christmas without any parents.”

Another of Sister Margaret’s nieces, Karen Belliveau ’79, also remembers her kindness. “Throughout her life,” Ms. Belliveau recalls of her aunt, “when she knew someone was upset or had a death in the family, she beelined for them. I don’t know what she’d say to them, but she offered comfort. I saw it quite a lot.” That comfort was extended readily to a young Ms. Belliveau; in her first year at StFX, she happened to live on the 3rd floor of Marguerite Hall … where Sister Margaret was an RA. “If I had trouble sleeping, or just wanted to talk, I’d go down and sit on her bed. She kept a stash of food on hand for me, and I could tell her anything. The other girls couldn’t believe it!”

To the other residents of Marguerite Hall, Sister Margaret likely posed an intimidating figure. At the same time that she was keeping snacks in her room for her niece’s late-night chats, she was colluding with Allan J. MacEachen, fundraising furiously for a new position in the Celtic Studies department. They were successful: the Sister St.

Sr. Margaret MacDonell ’54, HON ’00 (right) is pictured with Dr. Dorothy Lander, retired StFX adult education professor.

Above: Father Malcolm MacDonell ’38, HON ’92

Right: Sr. Margaret

MacDonell ’54 HON ’00

“WHEN SHE KNEW SOMEONE WAS UPSET OR HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, SHE BEELINED FOR THEM. I DON’T KNOW WHAT SHE’D SAY TO THEM, BUT SHE OFFERED COMFORT.”

KAREN BELLIVEAU ’79

Veronica Chair of Gaelic Studies was established in 1984 and held for many years by Dr. Ken Nilsen, a fellow Harvard alumnus. Together, Dr. Nilsen and Sister Margaret – Dr. MacDonell, wearing her academic cap – developed a Celtic Studies department that is now one of only two in North America to grant terminal degrees.

The history of StFX is intimately intertwined with the history of Gaelic in Nova Scotia. When the university was founded in 1853, more than two-thirds of the population spoke Gaelic, and as late as the 1930s, more than half of the staff of the university were Gaelic speakers. Sister Margaret and her brother, Father Malcolm, were raised in Hillsdale, in Inverness County in Cape Breton, in a Gaelicspeaking home; actually, the 1931 census shows that the entire community spoke Gaelic.

Sister Margaret made it her life’s work to ensure that her culture would not be lost. A longtime colleague, retired StFX faculty member, Catriona Parsons, said of Sister Margaret: “She was a spiritual woman who knew what she was meant to do and she did it.” Sister Margaret spent the years between 1977 and 1982 with Dr. John Shaw, taperecording countless conversations with the people of Cape Breton; those recordings became the Gaelic Folklore Project, the largest archive of spoken Gaelic in North America. (It’s now digitized and available online via StFX’s Gael Stream website.) Her 1984 book, The Emigrant Experience: Songs of Highland Emigrants in North America, is a highly regarded text that both translates and analyzes the first-hand accounts of Scots making their way in the new world.

Sister Margaret’s nieces all took pains to note the devotion and care shown towards their aunt at the end of her life by her sisters in faith from the Congregation of Notre Dame. She made her own vows in 1946, prior to attending StFX (from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1954). She earned a Master’s in history from Columbia University (1961), and her doctorate from Harvard (1969). Fewer than 10 per cent of those who received PhDs in American universities in the 1960s were women, and although statistics don’t exist that can tell us how many of those women were nuns, Sister Margaret would certainly have been in a very, very small minority.

She was indefatigable, though. Her decades at StFX laid an extraordinary foundation for others intent on studying and preserving Gaelic culture, but she found time to do the daily crossword in The New York Times with her brother, who was President of StFX from 1970 to 1978. They were “the best of friends,” according to their nieces, always ready with a joke. Father Malcolm passed in 2015, at the age of 96.

Their niece, Sally Rankin, notes that Sister Margaret “was loyal to her vows to the end,” and took great pride in being a Sister of the CND. “We trusted her,” Ms. Rankin says. “She was there through the good times and the bad – she would be at the weddings but she was our constant in tragedy.”

Sister Margaret MacDonell died on the 28th of September, 2023, just shy of her 103rd birthday. She is sorely missed by her entire extended family, including two sisters, Elizabeth and Jessie, and myriad nieces and nephews.

Sr. Margaret and her niece, Karen Belliveau ’79

Dr. Katie Edwards looks at how StFX is encouraging and preparing an impressive number of alumni to undertake doctoral work.

YEARS THE FORMATIVE

In the landscape of Canadian postsecondary institutions, StFX (and our Maple League partners) stand out amidst a crowd of large, research-intensive universities. Government funding models have shifted in recent decades, leaving universities few other choices than to increase enrolment and use tuition fees to support operations.

StFX has not done that. Instead, we’ve been swimming against the tide and remaining purposely small. Our model of education – small class sizes, an emphasis on service, opportunities for students to explore leadership – is not for everyone. Often, newly-minted PhDs will go to larger institutions at which they can pursue aggressive research agendas, backed by teams of graduate students.

At StFX, professors teach and conduct research in equal measure; their work in the classroom is often as impactful as that which they conduct in the lab or the library. And because our professors do not have graduate students with whom they undertake research, our top undergraduate students are often enveloped in professors’ research projects, either during their studies or in the summer months. (The summer research awards, supported by a variety of corporations, foundations, and individuals, provide nearly 100 students with employment and research opportunities each year – although the demand is much higher than the awards can currently support.)

The result of our professors engaging promising undergraduate students in their own research is that those students often graduate with published papers already to their credit (highly unusual in academia) and they are much more likely to attend graduate school than their peers, either at StFX or other universities.

The following pages will introduce you to just a few of the StFX alumni who are either currently enrolled in graduate school or who have recently completed their studies. One somewhat surprising fact linked nearly all the alumni interviewed for this story: with one or two exceptions, they entered StFX planning on taking an entirely different degree – and changed their course sometime in their undergraduate days. Musicians became biologists, physicists switched to kinetics, and English majors finished with degrees in economics. The lesson? Our years at StFX reveal ourselves to ourselves. We become who we are in those formative years, often with the guidance of the StFX faculty.

The StFX academic ecosystem is flourishing: our small-by-design model encourages undergraduate research; promotes graduate school attendance; encourages alumni to achieve terminal degrees; and welcomes new PhDs into academia as professors. Happily, several of our alumni have returned to StFX to teach, thereby propagating this ecosystem even further.

These newer graduates join StFX faculty members such as Dr. Ryan Lukeman ’03 (Math and Statistics); Dr. Britney Benoit ’10 (Nursing), Dr. Katie Aubrecht ’05 (Sociology), Dr. Mary Oxner ’87 (Business), Dr. Ken MacAulay ’84 (Business), Dr. Andrew MacDougall ’08, Dr. Jonathan Hood ’08 (Human Kinetics), Dr. Erin Austin ’96 (Psychology), and Dr. Karen Brebner ’90 (Psychology), among others. It is certainly a sign of a healthy relationship with one’s alma mater, if graduates return and make their careers here.

TALIAH POWERS ’18 ’20

Taliah Powers ’18 ’20 spent most of her time at StFX convinced that she was going to become a medical doctor. She studied human kinetics and planned to take a year off after graduating to study for the MCAT. During a required sport philosophy course in her fourth year, however, “a light bulb went off. I saw how passionate the professor was about the subject matter, and the content of the course really spoke to me.” That professor was Dr. Deb Vossen, who asked Ms. Powers if she’d ever considered graduate school – and that changed everything.

Ms. Powers graduated with her science degree, then re-enrolled at StFX to earn a Bachelor of Arts, as well. She worked for Dr. Vossen, who was instrumental in helping her to find a graduate program at Brock University that matched her research interests. After completing her master’s degree in 2022, Ms. Powers enrolled at The Pennsylvania State University, where she’s currently investigating the relationship between work and play. “Not everything is about utility,” she says. “When it is only about utility, we start to see our lives become less and less meaningful.”

GABRIELLE VASEY ’14

Dr. Gabrielle Vasey ’14 studied physics, chemistry, and biology in her first year at StFX, believing that her future lay in medicine. She’d been good at math in high school, so took calculus “just for fun.” Her calculus professor that year, Dr. Ryan Lukeman ’03, approached her and asked if she’d be interested in joining his research group the following summer. “I really respected him,” Dr. Vasey notes, “and having him recognize my ability in math was important to me.” Dr. Lukeman trained her to conduct research over the next two summers.

Dr. Vasey graduated from StFX a degree in math, then completed a master’s degree in economics at Western University in 2015 and enrolled in a highly-selective PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania the following year, studying education policies in lowand middle-income countries. Upon completing her PhD in 2021,

Dr. Vasey undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University before landing a tenure-track position at Concordia University. Not even a decade following her graduation from StFX, Dr. Vasey is running her own research program and supervising graduate students.

“Even while I was an undergraduate, none of the faculty ever treated me as ‘less than.’”

She returned to Antigonish in the fall of 2023 to deliver a guest lecture in the Economics Department, now a colleague to the faculty members who’d helped her own academic journey. “Even while I was an undergraduate,” Dr. Vasey recalls, “none of the faculty ever treated me as ‘less than.’ They just wanted everyone to have a career that fit them – and academia fit me.” Now that she’s a professor herself, Dr. Vasey can appreciate the time that Dr. Lukeman and others invested in her development. “They just love teaching,” she says, “and I respect just how much work they put into their classes.” More than that, she vows, “if a high school student asked me where to apply, StFX is still top of my list.”

ALEX MILLER ’16

Alex Miller ’16 notes that his desire to do postgraduate academic work was “significantly influenced” by his experiences at StFX. He completed an honours Arts degree, majoring in political science and minoring in aquatic resources – what he notes is an “excellent interdisciplinary program” that allowed him to explore his myriad areas of interest. In his third year at StFX, he received funding through the Irving Mentorship Fund to conduct research on Nova Scotia’s renewable energy policy; that work informed his honours thesis. In Mr. Miller’s last year at StFX, he accompanied former Executive Director of the McKenna Centre for Leadership, Senator Mary Coyle, on a visit to Haiti; that trip led to his master’s work on the cholera epidemic there and its relationship to insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure.

He completed that degree at Oxford University in England, and is now enrolled in the PhD program at Queen’s University, Belfast. Mr. Miller’s thesis focuses on the politics of renewable energy development in Ontario and Northern Ireland. He is also a Research Fellow on the European Union-funded EmpowerUs Project, which examines sustainable community development strategies in coastal regions around Europe. He credits his professors at StFX –particularly Drs. Peter Clancy, Lavinia Stan, Claudia Schaler, and Jim Williams – with providing him guidance during his studies, and for encouraging him to pursue graduate work. And, he’s keen

to thank Lynn Patterson, the Program Assistant for Aquatic Resources, “who was instrumental in all the work [he] did at StFX, and was a huge source of support while I navigated the graduate school application process.”

CHRIS GREENCORN ’16

Chris Greencorn ’16 has deep roots in the musical history of Nova Scotia and entered StFX intending to study jazz. But an elective history course in his first year put him on a new path; by his fourth year, he’d taken every course that Dr. Laurie Stanley-Blackwell offered and worked with her on a research project focused on Highland Scottish emigrant burial customs. “I spent a lot of my summers in cemeteries,” Mr. Greencorn notes wryly. He’s now at Queen’s University, Kingston, working on a PhD that examines how Canadian women folklore collectors of the 20th century conceived of race in connection with “folk” and “traditional music” -- and how those conceptions anteceded Canada’s official multiculturalism program.

Mr. Greencorn is being supervised at Queen’s by Dr. Lisa Pasolli, a former member of the StFX faculty. He notes that his good relationships with faculty members at StFX stemmed from a willingness to “knock on a few doors,” and that when students “participate in the academic life of the university in a substantial way, the opportunities for students to flourish are plentiful.”

JESSIE DOYLE ’19

When Jessie Doyle ’19 came to StFX in September of 2014, she was “not entirely sure” what she planned to study, but quickly found herself engrossed in psychology, philosophy, and English courses. “I’ve always wanted to understand human nature,” she notes, and the social sciences and humanities help us understand not only who we are as human beings, but also the world around us.” Ms. Doyle had taken a year off after high school and was working full-time at a fast-food restaurant when she matriculated at StFX. “Up until the beginning of my third year,” she says, “I did not view myself as the

‘kind’ of person who was capable of pursuing an honours degree, let alone subsequent academic work.” She surprised herself, though, when she devoted herself fully to her studies, and “allowed [her] curiosity to take the reins.”

“I did not view myself as the ‘kind’ of person who was capable of pursuing an honours degree, let alone subsequent academic work.”

Ms. Doyle credits Dr. Margo Watt with her personal and academic development: “Quite frankly, she believed in me before I believed in myself. Dr. Watt established high expectations that I needed in order to see and begin actualizing my potential. I left StFX knowing how to manage a busy schedule and competing demands, with strong research and critical thinking skills, and a desire to build upon the robust foundation established at StFX.”

Currently, Ms. Doyle is in her fifth year of a clinical psychology doctoral program at the University of New Brunswick; her dissertation research draws upon work she began with Dr. Watt (with whom she has published papers and book chapters.”). She intends to pursue a career in clinical forensic psychology, and remains appreciative of the foundation created for her at StFX: “both personally and professionally, the people I learned from have profoundly impacted who I am, what I do today, and how I foresee the trajectory of my future career.”

LIAM ELBOURNE ’19

Liam Elbourne ‘19 made waves when he was at StFX: not only was his research on the link between low precipitation and the assassinations of Roman Emperors published in Economics Letters, he was also selected as a Rhodes Scholar. Captain of the soccer team and president of the German Society at StFX, Mr. Elbourne was also a polymath, interested in economics, math, and business. He completed his master’s degree at Oxford and began his doctoral work there in the fall of 2022.

“There is a whole school bus full of people, who were really instrumental in my development.”

“I’ve pivoted to environmental economics, working on a series of papers that want to better understand how individuals’ perceptions on climate change are impacted by their experiences with extreme weather,” he notes. “My work will, hopefully, bring methodological

improvements that will better quantify the effects that we all agree are present.” Dr. Cornelius Christian was Mr. Elbourne’s co-author on that first paper in 2018 and “took a real interest” in him, providing significant guidance when Mr. Elbourne was considering graduate school in the United Kingdom. “In many ways,” Mr. Elbourne says, “Dr. Christian coached me to put myself in the best-possible position to receive the Rhodes Scholarship – and it worked.” But Mr. Elbourne is quick to rhyme off names – Dr. Greg Tkacz in Economics; Marlis Lade in Modern Languages; Leo MacPherson in Athletics; Dr. Tim Hynes in Business – of people who helped him while he was a student at StFX. “There is a whole school bus full of people,” he says, “who were really instrumental in my development.”

Mr. Elbourne spoke at length about a topic that came up often with alumni doing graduate work: impostor syndrome. “In hindsight,” he says, “everyone was terrified of failing. We had all been at or near the top of our class in undergrad, but Oxford was much more competitive.” He was relieved to discover that not only did others feel the same way, but also that StFX had prepared him well for the rigors of doctoral study. Particularly, he thinks, in terms of collaboration: “I have such distinct memories of my last year at StFX, working with others on problem sets, sharing answers, working through challenges. In grad school, it will not go well if you don’t work with your peers –so I’m glad I had that training early on.”

BRE O’HANDLEY ’17

Bre O’Handley ’17 completed their honours thesis with former StFX psychology professor, Dr. Karen Blair. It “left me feeling excited about research and feeling prepared to continue a research career,” they note – so excited that they’ve now joined Dr. Blair at Trent University and are completing a PhD examining LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of stigma and their mental health. They “often wonder” if they “had gone to a school other than StFX” if they’d have gone on to graduate school, crediting the other faculty of the psychology department with supporting their academic path. “Dr. Margo Watt often made the time to meet with me, and she challenged students in a way that prepared us well by having us participate in regular discussion and debate.”

“Dr, Margo Watts challenged students in a way that prepared us well by having us participate in regular discussion and debate.”

In their last year at StFX, Mx. O’Handley and seven other students received funding to attend the Canadian Psychological Association’s annual meeting in Toronto, and they presented their research there.

The experience was exciting for Mx. O’Handley, and gave them valuable insight into further facets of academia. With the support of Dr. Blair, they published their honours thesis – even before graduating from StFX. Mx. O’Handley thus felt very well-prepared for graduate school: “I had a headstart on conducting my master’s thesis research, especially since my honours thesis experience was so hands-on.” Their relationship with Dr. Blair has been formative for Mx. O’Handley: “Her work on LGBTQ+ psychology completely opened my eyes to a whole new area of social psychology that I didn’t know existed but that I thought was critical. Often, LGBTQ+ people are excluded from psychology research.” They spent two years as StFX’s Gender and Sexual Diversity Advisor after graduating, an experience that’s fed their doctoral research: “it’s clear that connecting with other LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty is important for students who are struggling to accept their identity and who are dealing with anti-LGBTQ+ stigma. I examine the role that community connection can play in protecting the mental health of young LGBTQ+ people.”

ZAC KONINGS ’15

After Zac Konings ’15 graduated from StFX, he had no intention of pursuing further education, beyond CPA certification. It wasn’t until the height of the pandemic, though, that he began reflecting on something Dr. Ken MacAulay ’84 had said to him years prior: “If you ever want to come back to StFX as a faculty member, just reach out.” Mr. Konings reconnected with Dr. MacAulay and several of his other accounting professors, who encouraged him to engage in doctoral work.

“I can earnestly say that preparing students to be the business leaders of tomorrow is a source of enduring personal satisfaction.”

Now enrolled in the PhD program at Saint Mary’s University, Mr. Konings is also back at StFX, teaching in the Schwartz School of Business and hoping to provide the same type of support to current students that his professors did for him. He’s liaising with other StFX alumni who are participating in some of his qualitative research, as he investigates how auditors cope with supervisory pressure to act in a skeptical manner. He is “incredibly grateful” to the business faculty at StFX, who’ve welcomed him to what he considers his “second home.” “I can earnestly say,” Mr. Konings notes, “that preparing students to be the business leaders of tomorrow is a source of enduring personal satisfaction.”

JEFF CARON ’09

Jeff Caron ’09, Chris Lively ’06 ’13, Iain Beaton ’13 and Mitch R. Murray ’11 have all completed their postdoctoral work and are now teaching at universities in Canada and the United States. Dr. Caron, who is an associate professor of sports psychology at the Université de Montréal, notes that Dr. Charlene Weaving, of StFX’s Human Kinetics department, “had a huge impact on my decision to pursue graduate school.

“Dr. Charlene Weaving pushed me to develop strong arguments, which gave me the confidence that I could succeed.”

She pushed me to develop strong arguments, which gave me the confidence that I could succeed.” Dr. Caron completed a PhD at McGill and undertook postdoctoral work at Yale before assuming his current appointment. “As a professor now myself,” Dr. Caron says, “I try to create the same kind of environment in my own classrooms that Dr. Weaving and many of her colleagues did for us as students in human kinetics at StFX.”

EVAN CURLEY ’18

Evan Curley ’18 is working on a PhD in sociology at Dalhousie University – with the full support of his professors from StFX. In addition to the guidance of his thesis supervisor, Dr. Lynda Harling Stalker, “Dr. Norine Verberg and Dr. Patricia Cormack,” Mr. Curley says, “were also impactful in [his] decision to pursue grad school –both because of their explicit encouragement and because of their demonstration of the meaningfulness of their work.” He receives regular messages of encouragement from his StFX mentors, with whom he worked on research projects in topics such as the State’s

role in legalizing marijuana, issues related to provincial identity, community events such as Chase the Ace, and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Curley feels strongly that StFX, with its substantial focus on student research, gave him “a level of skill and confidence that many of [his] peers lacked upon entrance” into graduate school. The most important lesson he learned at StFX, though, is that academic work can have a direct impact on one’s community – that by studying the area in which we live, we can understand it and contribute positively to it.

CHRIS LIVELY ’06 ’13

The road to the professoriate was a bit more circuitous for Dr. Lively, who first completed a degree at StFX in 2006. After an early career in teaching overseas, he returned to StFX for a second time, which coincided with the advent of the two-year Special Concentration in Forensic Psychology offering, helmed by Dr. Margo Watt; the program has since grown into a four-year, direct-entry Applied Forensic Psychology program. With Dr. Watt’s encouragement, Dr. Lively completed a PhD at Memorial University, and when a job opened up in StFX’s Psychology Department, it felt “like a dream come true” to Dr. Lively. He’s now colleagues with the professors who once taught him and is trying to carry forward their ethos of generosity and care into his own teaching practice. He regards Dr. Watt as “inspirational,” and as for joining the faculty that once taught him? “I’m delighted that I’m part of it,” Dr. Lively says. “The dream was always to come back here.”

EVAN DAVISON KOTLER ’18

Like many other alumni, Evan Davison Kotler ’18 earned a degree in a different program than the one in which he’d started his time at StFX (he switched into biology after spending summers in the United Kingdom, researching regenerative medicine). And, like our other

featured alumni, Mr. Davison Kotler too was engaged in a variety of activities beyond the classroom while at StFX: he was president of StFX for SAFE, the group supporting Syrian refugees, news edited the Xaverian Weekly, participated in Model United Nations, and received the McBain Riley Global Engagement Award. “Overall,” he says, “StFX taught me the critical importance of network and community.”

“Overall,” he says, “StFX taught me the critical importance of network and community.”

Now a PhD student at the University of Toronto, Mr. Davison Kotler researches gene and cell therapies for degenerative disc disease. Since graduating from StFX, he has been actively involved in the field of biosecurity with the US-based Helena; advised on biotherapeutic investments at Lumira Ventures; and contributed to research at Biossil.ai, a Bio-AI startup focusing on identifying patient subpopulations for specific therapies. He attributes his “soft skills” to his experiences at StFX, noting they put him years ahead of his peers in graduate school. Mr. Davison Kotler also acknowledges several professors for their impactful teachings: Dr. Norine Verberg, for instilling the value of a ‘glocal’ perspective; Dr. Lori Graham, for demonstrating the power of passion and a love for learning; Dr. Matthew Fellion, for emphasizing compassion in teaching; and Dr. Bill Marshall, for showing the versatility of knowledge across disciplines.

ALEX MACISAAC ‘12

Alex MacIsaac ‘12 came to StFX wanting to become a better writer. Across his Arts classes, he found professors who took a keen interest in helping him reach that goal. He says: “To this day, I have yet to experience the level of attention and care and thought from professors as I did at StFX.” Graduating with a degree in English, Mr. MacIsaac came to understand universities as “places of conversation, inquiry, and discovery” -- and wanted to become part of that system by earning a PhD and becoming a professor. He’s changed course slightly, and is now studying climate science at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.

“To this day, I have yet to experience the level of attention and care and thought from professors as I did at StFX.”

Still, Mr. MacIsaac finds interesting commonalities between his training in literature and his work in science: “as climate change

moves from the science journals and international reports to the storms we’re now weathering, the literary and critical perspective I gained at StFX helps me understand the pressure of the climate on our collective (un)conscious.” He is confident that despite legitimate climate anxieties, we can stabilize global warming. Indeed, he’s now working on a project co-led by Dr. Andrew MacDougall ’08 of the Climate and Environment program at StFX; as Mr. MacIsaac says, “all roads lead back to X.”

MITCH R. MURRAY ’11

Not only is Dr. Murray ’11 now teaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he’s also co-edited a book about science fiction with his StFX thesis advisor, Dr. Mathias Nilges, and they have another one in the works. In his literature classes at StFX, he notes, he “felt like [he] was learning for learning’s sake. That was an exhilarating new thing for me. I didn’t just learn new ideas but new ways of thinking.” After StFX, Dr. Murray completed a PhD at the University of Florida and was a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University in Atlanta.

“StFX showed me that learning is an uncontestable good in itself, and I try to instill that same belief in my own students, too.”

“The English seminar room in Nicholson Tower lives in my head rent-free,” he says, “because it was so formative. StFX showed me that learning is an uncontestable good in itself, and I try to instill that same belief in my own students, too.”

IAIN BEATON ’13

Iain Beaton ’13 is an exception to the trend of changing programs mid-degree: he came to StFX intending to study math; he graduated with a degree in math; and now he’s a mathematics professor at Acadia University. After graduation from StFX, he didn’t intend to enter graduate school; in fact, he worked as an actuary while figuring out his long-term career path. With the support of StFX faculty members like Dr. Stephen Finbow, Dr. Beaton earned a PhD from Dalhousie University and now teaches actuarial science to undergraduate students, drawing on his experiences as a student at StFX. Because his route to the professoriate hasn’t been linear, he’s determined to give his students “all the information they can to make the right decision for them.” Acadia’s not StFX, but Dr. Beaton is quick to credit the Acadia faculty with encouraging and supporting him – just as his professors at StFX did.

CELEBRATING XAVERIANS

For the first time ever, during StFX Homecoming 2023, the StFX Alumni Affairs Office hosted its Hall of Honour, Alumni Awards of Excellence, and Pride of StFX award ceremonies together in one event. The Oct. 14 marquee moment delivered laughter, inspiration, and faith in humanity during a joyful celebration of alumni and friends who make a difference.

HALL OF HONOUR

The Hall of Honour, established by the Class of 1991 to recognize alumni who are especially accomplished Xaverians, welcomed three new members.

John Gillies ’69 ’78

John Gillies has impacted countless lives through his teaching and community leadership, always answering the call to help others. A graduate of StFX’s BA, B.Ed. and Teacher’s Certificate programs, his journey took him to Nigeria and India, and back to his Port Hood, Cape Breton, hometown where he worked for decades as a teacher and guidance counselor. Teaching history at Port Hood Consolidated School and later at Dalbrae Academy, he led numerous initiatives to enrich the lives of students and staff. Known for his community involvement, co-founding the Chestico Museum in 1978 is among his most outstanding achievements. Whether serving on the Credit

Union board, in parish and diocese committees, or in volunteer groups supporting refugee families, Mr. Gillies gives tirelessly to build a more compassionate world.

Marie Salamoun-Dunne ’71 ’75

Marie Salamoun-Dunne is a role model to all who seek to make an impact on the world around them. After tragically losing her mother and brother to ALS, she became an advocate for patients suffering from this debilitating disease. She served as ALS Society of PEI president, on the ALS Society of Canada national board of directors, and with Hospice Palliative Care for PEI, always going above and beyond. A recognized leader in palliative care, death, and bereavement, she has shared her expertise as a national and international speaker, and at StFX, to which she’s returned often to share her knowledge with students. Additionally, she’s co-founded 100 Women Who Care, volunteered with the PEI Heart & Stroke Foundation, the PEI Cancer Strategy Planning Committee, and Syrian refugee sponsorship efforts.

Craig Smith ’83

Coming to StFX in 1978, Craig Smith found his place in X-Project, a student society that organizes social activities and pairs tutors with Black and Indigenous youth in local communities. To this day, he

John Gillies

Marie Salamoun-Dunne

Craig Smith

WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

still volunteers, and his community involvement extends to Special Olympics Nova Scotia. He served on the provincial board for 10 years and when he stepped down, it wasn’t to say goodbye; instead, he focused efforts on the Special Olympics Pictou Regional Committee. His aptitude for inspiring generosity proved critical to funding many programs, and he championed fundraising initiatives to eradicate participation fees for athletes. More recently, during the 2022 Nova Scotia Summer Games, he was among those in the kitchen in the early hours helping ready breakfast for participants.

ALUMNI AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

The Alumni Awards of Excellence recognize the contributions of very special members of our Xaverian Family.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS/ALUMNA AWARD:

The Honorable Graydon Nicholas ’68 ’94

The Hon. Graydon Nicholas, born in Tobique First Nation, graduated from StFX, earned a law degree from the University of New Brunswick, and became the first Indigenous member of the New Brunswick Bar in 1971. Adding a Master of Social Work degree in 1974, he’s worked as a lawyer and educator, researcher and policy advisor, human rights advocate, and holder of public office. Working with First Nation communities and organizations, he was

key in advancing Indigenous and treaty rights – notably acting as co-counsel for the Union of Nova Scotia Indians in the Donald Marshall Jr. Inquiry. In 1991, he was appointed a New Brunswick provincial court judge – the first Indigenous person to hold this role. He served until 2009 when he became New Brunswick’s 30th Lieutenant Governor. He was Chair of Native Studies at St. Thomas University from 1989-91 and again in 2015 – where he continues today, in addition to serving as Chancellor. He has received the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick, and countless other distinctions, including an honorary degree from StFX.

YOUNG ALUMNUS/ALUMNA AWARD:

Dr. Jack Rasmussen ’07

After StFX, Dr. Jack Rasmussen obtained his medical degree from Dalhousie, then pursued a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery and a two-year critical care medicine fellowship before accepting an attending position at the QEII Health Sciences Centre and a teaching position in the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. Drawing on his plastic surgery and critical care expertise, he played a lead role in advancing the field of medicine and in particular, the treatment of burns and complex wounds. As Director of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Burn Unit, he has fostered a collaborative approach that has tangibly improved outcomes for

Hon. Graydon Nicholas

Dr. Jack Rasmussen

Patty Boyle

patients. He is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Sparks Resident Teaching Award, and still finds time to visit and share his knowledge at StFX’s Rankin School of Nursing.

XAVERIAN SPIRIT AWARD: Patty

Boyle

Nurturing, kind, and affable – these qualities describe Patty Boyle, who bestowed a welcome positivity that improved the residence environment for many students during her time on StFX’s cleaning staff. Going to university can be as daunting as it is exciting, and staying in residence is often a student’s first experience of independence. Going beyond her already crucial duties as a Facilities Management member, she helped alleviate everyday stresses, as a chat with her was guaranteed to raise one’s spirits. Ms. Boyle was frequently heard before she was seen, as she often sang while seeing to her duties. Her loving presence and genuine care made many students feel as though they were at a home away from home.

FRIEND OF STFX: 98.9XFM

Since 1943, 98.9XFM (then CJFX) has connected people, kept the community informed, and been a valued friend to StFX. Intertwined from the start (StFX physics professor Father Dr. E.M. Clark helped build the technical and mechanical part of the station), StFX and 98.9XFM have often teamed together. The Peoples’ School was an important part of early programming, and 98.9XFM opened its doors to students interested in broadcast and music careers and helped extend StFX into the community, broadcasting at countless convocations, events, and sporting games. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this partnership resulted in a key educational tool, a new radio show (still airing today) featuring XFM’s Ken Farrell and StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin, which helps keep the community informed of campus plans and activities.

PRIDE OF STFX

These awards annually recognize a student and a graduate for leadership in, or in support of, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Dr. Jacinta Sullivan ’11

Dr. Jacinta Sullivan stands out as an inclusive health care practitioner, a woman in leadership, a community volunteer, and a 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate. A naturopathic doctor, she co-founded Juniper Naturopathic Clinic in Fort McMurray, AB. Her clinic offers free appointments to Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and offers slidingscale payment options to make services accessible to marginalized communities. Juniper Naturopathic became a Rainbow Space business in 2021. With her business partner and wife, Dr. Sam Clouthier, Dr. Sullivan is a local business leader in 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and advocacy, involved in many local initiatives. Juniper Naturopathic was recognized in 2022 with the Pride YMM Business Leadership Award.

Henderson Cartwright

StFX student and human rights advocate Henderson Cartwright has made a tremendous impact on the Xaverian community while working towards two undergraduate degrees. As a 2SLGBTQIA+ community member, they go above and beyond to support fellow students and create a campus that fully embraces diversity. They led X-Pride through the challenges of a global pandemic, while fighting tenaciously for inclusive queer spaces at StFX. Cartwright, an international student and no stranger to discrimination, is a former Students’ Union Student of African Descent representative and now a ‘U’ executive team member involved in planning more inclusive campus events, all while providing an example that inspires community members to embrace who they are, to stand up for what they believe, and to be kind.

Dr. Jacinta Sullivan

98.9XFM

Henderson Cartwright

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR STFX’S ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024

WHAT WHY

BURSARIES!

ALL MONEY RAISED WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL NEED

10.6%

INCREASE IN RENT IN NOVA SCOTIA

HOW

$28,000+

AVERAGE DEBT LOAD OF NOVA SCOTIA STUDENTS THAT FINANCE THEIR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

100%

XAVERIAN SPIRIT, MAKING A STFX EDUCATION POSSIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE

70%

LAST YEAR’S DAY OF GIVING DONORS WERE ALUMNI

6.3%

INCREASE IN GROCERY PRICES IN NOVA SCOTIA

DON’T WANT TO WAIT? HELP STUDENTS TODAY!

Honouring an alumnus that stood for ‘fairness and equal opportunity for all Canadians.’

The Samuel Wakim QC Academic Scholarship supports StFX students.

Many accolades have described StFX alumnus Samuel Wakim QC ’59 —prominent Toronto lawyer and politician; practitioner of inclusion long before it was the norm; advocate for women’s education; a true friend; and a great Canadian. Now, Mr. Wakim’s inspiring life and legacy is helping current StFX students chart their own path to success.

The Samuel Wakim, QC, Academic Scholarship is available annually to a first-year, full-time student enrolling in the Public Policy and Governance program at StFX. To honour the achievements and memory of Mr. Wakim, who passed away Dec. 4, 2022, at age 85, friends and family recently contributed a further $600,000 to the endowed scholarship fund.

Lifelong friend and former Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney ’59, remembers meeting Mr. Wakim as freshmen in September, 1955.

“We were in Confusion Square, and he was wearing a red jacket with the words St. Malachy’s written on the back, which was the

high school in Saint John, NB, from which he had just graduated. Strange, but in my mind’s eye I believe I also see a very young and lovely Marty Robertson, also from Saint John, whom Sam was to marry, with whom he raised six kids and enjoyed a wonderful, happy life for 58 years,” Mr. Mulroney said in a eulogy delivered at a June celebration of life. “Pretty well from that day on, he called me Bones and I called him Sambo.

“So, as freshmen, Sam and I became friends, then close friends, then roommates, and then inseparable friends as it turned out, for 67 years. In fact, Sam was my best friend in life. He was the best friend any man could ever hope to have. He was friendly, intelligent, funny, hard-working, and loyal. Most of all, Sam was a fascinating guy. He really was a renaissance man.”

Mr. Wakim spent his formative years in New Brunswick, the ninth child and only son of Lebanese immigrants. With a sense of empathy gained from having eight older sisters, he became an unwavering advocate for women’s education and employment

In this photo from 2016, Sam Wakim ’59 (left) and former Canadian prime minister, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney ’59 (centre) and former U.S. senator George Mitchell are pictured attending the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto.

“So, as freshmen, Sam and I became friends, then close friends, then roommates, and then inseparable friends as it turned out, for 67 years.”

The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney’59

issues. After StFX, he went on to a memorable career, becoming special investigation counsel to the Ontario Securities Commission, a Member of Parliament, and a highly successful corporate lawyer and corporate director.

Politics was also part of Mr. Wakim’s DNA. In 1962, he was appointed Private Secretary to the Honourable Walter Dinsdale, Minister of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources. In 1979, he was elected MP for Don Valley East. Mr. Wakim also loved sports and opera and became an expert on early American movies.

Mr. Mulroney said Mr. Wakim’s “contributions to my life and success were endless. He was a highly valued counsellor with a deep knowledge of human nature and a delightful sense of humour. We talked at least once a day every day for over 50 years. He knew everything going on in Toronto, and he knew everyone, so I never needed a Gallup poll to find out what people thought about a given policy. I simply called Sam, and, with his unerring instinct, he put me on the right track.”

Mr. Mulroney says he would not have become Progressive Conservative Leader without Mr. Wakim.

“He immediately saw – almost alone – the huge new opportunities in the youth vote which the national party had decided would constitute almost 1/3 of the total votes at the 1983 Leadership Convention. Sam devised and initiated an extraordinary blitz of youth delegates across Canada which proved to be the determining factor on the last ballot, pushing me to victory and eventually allowing me to become Prime Minister of Canada.”

Along with his invaluable counsel through the years, Mr. Wakim was instrumental in bringing to Mr. Mulroney’s attention leading minority candidates for the federal government, candidates who served with high distinction.

Mr. Mulroney remembers his friend fondly: “Sam stood for fairness and equal opportunity for all Canadians, and he lived his life accordingly. As such, he was an inspiration to many, including me.”

The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney ’59 (left) and Sam Wakim ’59 met as freshmen at StFX. Mr. Wakim went on to serve the nation as one of the former prime minister’s most trusted advisors, and lifelong friend.

PART OF AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY

ALMOST 950 STUDENTS RECEIVE X-RINGS

“Today is an incredible day.”

That’s how StFX Senior Class co-president Abbey Mombourquette summed up the energy, pride, and excitement felt December 3—the Feast of St. Francis Xavier—as more than 950 senior StFX students received their much-anticipated X-Rings, the unmistakable emblem that links Xaverians worldwide.

“StFX is more than a university; it’s a community that becomes part of who you are,” Ms. Mombourquette said of the significance of this moment to classmates, clad in black robes and seated in the Keating Centre, and to family and friends filling viewing rooms and tuning in from across the globe.

Guest speaker Emma Nolan, a fourth year honours BASc in Health student from Toronto, ON—and the first current student to hold the

honour of ceremony speaker—said she hopes everyone is as proud as she is to not only have an X-Ring but also to be a part of an incredible legacy.

Ms. Nolan shared how her family stopped by StFX annually and her mother, Jennifer, a 1999 graduate, eagerly spoke about the school that’d given her so much opportunity. On Dec. 3, Ms. Nolan did likewise, speaking of those who positively influenced her throughout her time on campus.

Senior Class co-president Taylor Gorman, the master of ceremonies, announced this year’s Senior Class Gift, the Class of 2024 Housing eXpense fund, which will support students facing housing insecurity. She too spoke of how the ring represents a lifelong dream, “and I don’t take its significance lightly.”

“StFX is more than a university; it’s a community that becomes part of who you are.”

Abbey Mombourquette

XAVERIAN VALUES

December 3, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, is an important day, StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin said, as he spoke about the university’s namesake and his values of strength, courage, determination, and resilience.

Dr. Hakin recalled 2020 and the uncertainty of the global pandemic, thanking students and parents for trusting StFX and all who helped navigate that difficult time.

The Class of 2024 demonstrated Xaverian values from the beginning, and Dr. Hakin said his hope is the new X-Ring bearers continue to be community builders and makers of positive change, have hearts filled with compassion and relentless kindness.

In another special (and closely guarded) part of the ceremony,

the honourary X-Ring was bestowed upon Robert “Rocky” MacDougall, who’s worked at StFX since 1988, first at the campus bookstore and then the mailroom. Mr. MacDougall, a beloved member of the StFX community, is described as one who goes out of his way to make all feel welcome and seen.

StFX Alumni Association president Kathleen Sheridan ’15 told students that whatever their X-Ring symbolizes personally, her hope is that it serves as a reminder of their connection to StFX. She advised students to soak in this moment: “No other university in the world has a day quite like ours … I want you to promise to remember this feeling in the deep spirit and love for StFX.”

Honourary X-Ring recipient Robert “Rocky” MacDougall and family

WHAT MY X-RING MEANS TO ME

Awele Oye-Onwuka of Lagos, Nigeria, googled ‘small, personal school in Canada’ and has spent the past four years positively impacting the StFX community.

Five years ago, Awele Oye-Onwuka didn’t know anything about St. Francis Xavier University, a world away from her home in sprawling Lagos, Nigeria. Now, family teases the 22-year-old advanced management and leadership student in StFX’s Gerald Schwartz School of Business that she must work for the school—she talks so much about the X-Ring.

Mention that ring? A proud smile brightens her face.

“It’s so surreal. How did I get here?” she asks.

“I feel a range of emotions. I’m excited! But it’s getting closer to the end. I’ve been very comfortable here and knowing it’s a bit more final, it’s sad. I’m feeling so many things.

“When I look at the ring? It will be a testament to the community and what you can give and get from a community, and four years of transformation, of being a better person. It gives you the opportunity to be someone, to do great things. Wow, all that in one ring!

“I look at the ring and think too of my family and all their support. The calling and the long hours on the phone, and me representing my family.”

Ms. Oye-Onwuka knew she wanted to study in Canada, at a small, personal university.

When StFX came up, her older sister, who had studied in Halifax, knew someone whose brother had attended. She put the two in touch. “They had the best things to say,” she says. “It felt like a tight-knit community, and where I wanted to go.

“Even still, it was nerve-wracking. I had never visited, and I wondered what would happen if it wasn’t like what I thought.”

She was set to travel to Canada…and then a global pandemic hit. Her first year was spent online, at home in Nigeria. She was able to come to

Canada her second year—but alone, without her parents. It was her first time leaving home, and the first time she had to be an adult. She landed in Halifax, and as required for international students at the time, entered a two-week hotel quarantine – the longest two weeks, ever.

Looking back, she sees growth. “I moved in August, and even that May, I didn’t feel that I was ready. Until you do something, you don’t know how strong and capable you are.”

It wasn’t always easy. She admits it took a moment to adjust to small town life. But she’s enjoyed and is grateful for the experience and community.

“The campus is the centre, and you get to focus on being a student, prioritizing academics – but also going to events, joining societies, stretching your leadership skills, and learning to become a community member. You get that whole, well-rounded student experience.”

After settling in, Ms. Oye-Onwuka became a community advisor (CA) at Riley Hall last year and O’Regan Hall this year. She’s served in leadership capacity on the Schwartz Business Society, Women in Business Society, and Enactus Society. She’s also a campus tour guide.

Getting involved gave her opportunity to meet many people, and to give back to the school she says has given her much.

Studying in the Schwartz School has been particularly impactful. Beyond first-rate academics, she says the professors care deeply about their students.

As for finally sliding her X-Ring on her finger? Ms. Oye-Onwuka proudly reads her inscription: the word “grateful” (“I’m grateful to be here”), a heart symbol (“for love”), and Wella (“my family nickname.”)

THE PAST IS PRESENT: A FAMILY LEGACY

Growing up, Madison Taljaard often saw the old ring that lived in her mother’s jewelry box. She knew that the ring etched with a large “X” had belonged to her grandfather’s father, and that he’d attended StFX – but little else.

That great-grandfather, Albert (Bert) Cunningham, had matriculated at StFX in the fall of 1931. He’d quickly distinguished himself as an athlete on the track team, a performer in the dramatic and glee clubs, and as a leader: he was selected as the president of the freshman class. Sadly, he was not able to finish his studies at StFX; in the winter of 1933, his father had a heart attack and died. Bert returned home to Moncton, NB, and began his working life.

It would seem, though, that he held fond memories of his brief time at StFX. He returned to Antigonish for a football game in the early 1960s with his son, John. The eligibility rules were a bit different then, so that day, Bert purchased an X-Ring, which he wore proudly. John Cunningham remembers: “Dad often spoke of his time at StFX. He wore his ring every day for the rest of his life. It was a subject of many conversations with friends and colleagues who also attended StFX. Would you believe the cost of that ring in the early ’60s was $25? I’m sure it was the most expensive item in the bookstore.”

After his death in 1990, the ring came to Bert’s granddaughter, Melanie (Ms. Taljaard’s mother). Melanie Taljaard’s other grandfather, Edward D’Entremont, had also attended StFX in the 1920s, but despite this strong family connection, no descendants of either D’Entremont or

Cunningham ever enrolled at StFX.

That is, until Ms. Taljaard. She arrived in Antigonish in the fall of 2020, nearly a century after her great-grandfathers had come to campus. To her mother, it was a foregone conclusion that Madison would wear Bert Cunningham’s ring. Ms. Taljaard also came to think of that jewelry box relic as “her” ring, and this past autumn, brought it to Cameron’s Jewellery to be engraved with her graduation year – 2024.

She was devastated to learn that due to the nature of the gold in the older ring, Cameron’s could not engrave it nor resize it. The ring she’d come to think of as her connection with the past seemed no longer viable. But Melanie, Ms. Taljaard’s mother and her link to Bert Cunningham, is not easily dissuaded. She contacted goldsmiths across Canada and found one in Toronto who thought he could do the work.

He needed to see another X-Ring, though, so he could copy the engraving. Ms. Taljaard was stunned when Cameron’s in Antigonish loaned her a modern ring to take to Toronto, no questions asked. She boarded a plane in October with the two rings, and the goldsmith was able to make a perfect replica of the modern engraving – on the ring from the 1960s that belonged to a man who came to StFX in the 1930s.

At this year’s X-Ring ceremony on December 3, Ms. Taljaard’s family – including her grandfather, John – was there to see her receive Bert Cunningham’s ring. Inside is engraved “M.D.T.” (her initials) and “A.J.C.” – for Albert James Cunningham, her connection to StFX and the man who wore that ring so proudly.

BE KIND

STFX GRADUATES TOLD AT FALL CONVOCATION

Joy and feelings of accomplishment reverberated throughout the Charles V. Keating Centre on December 2nd as StFX graduated nearly 300 students and awarded an honourary degree to celebrated Canadian playwright, acclaimed theatre director, and University of Toronto assistant professor Djanet Sears.

The Outstanding Staff Teaching Award was presented to Sherry Neville-MacLean ’05 ’15, a lab instructor in the Department of Psychology, and the Outreach Award was earned by Pauline MacIntosh ’90, an adult educator and facilitator at the Coady Institute.

“A huge congratulations to you on your hard work and dedication, especially when things were hard and not going your way,” Dr. Sears, the recipient of a Governor General’s Literary Award, Canada’s highest literary honour for dramatic writing, told the Class of 2023.

None of us got here alone, she said as she spoke about those individuals who’ve showed us a special kindness, a generosity of time, and who made a difference.

“Kindness is a nourishing water. We are seeds. Something essential

grows within when we come into contact with kindness,” Dr. Sears said. “Trust me, no act of kindness is ever inconsequential. Kindness is sacred. I implore you to be kind.”

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE

In sharing his congratulations, StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin thanked the families and friends, faculty and staff, who helped bring the graduating class to this point.

“Why do we do it? The answer is simple. It is to build a better society and to give people the tools and skills to move forward.”

What happens next matters, he told graduates, “You will lead our society… Do not forget your Xaverian roots.”

StFX Chancellor John Peacock ’63 shared a similar message as he encouraged graduates to work to affect change in the world.

“I hope you will choose to be changemakers,” Master of Education graduate and senior class speaker Cheryl (Latimer) Malcolm ’07 ’09 ’23 added as she told classmates how important it is to show up as our authentic selves and create spaces for others to do likewise.

Trevor Gould

Dr. Elisabeth Ervin-Blakenheim ’23

CELEBRATED CANADIAN PLAYWRIGHT DJANET SEARS RECEIVES HONORARY DEGREE

Celebrated Canadian playwright, acclaimed theatre director, and assistant professor at the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto, Djanet Sears’ work has graced the stages of Mirvish Productions, Nightwood Theatre, Obsidian Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop, the Centaur Theatre, National Arts Centre, the Public Theatre, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Crossroads Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Soulpepper Theatre, St. Louis Black Repertory, Canadian Stage, and Factory Theatre.

Additionally, her plays have been widely published and translated. Her play, The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, won six META Awards, after a successful run at the National Arts Centre and The Centaur Theatre. Harlem Duet, another of her multiple awardwinning plays, is a non-chronological prequel to Shakespeare’s Othello, and was featured as part of Nightwood Theatre, Stratford Shakespeare Festival and Tarragon Theatre’s seasons. Her production of Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto, garnered rave reviews and ran to sold-out houses.

Dr. Sears has been a Visiting Professor at Stanford University, where

she both taught playwriting, and directed a production for the Drama Department. She has also been awarded a Creative Fellowship at the Royal Shakespeare Company, in association with Warwick University. This fellowship included collaborating as part of the creative team on the world premiere production of Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, a co-production between the RSC in the UK and the National Arts Centre in Canada. Dr. Sears is the recipient of a Governor General’s Literary Award, a Canadian Screenwriting Award, the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award, a Gold Prize at the International Radio Festival of New York, the William Kilbourne Toronto Arts Council Award, a Reel Black Award, and a Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Cultural Industries.

She has been the artistic director of the AfriCanadian Playwrights Festival. Dr. Sears is a founding member of the Obsidian Theatre Company, and the editor of two anthologies: Testifyin’: Contemporary African Canadian Drama, Vols. I & II (firsts of their kind in Canada). She is currently working on two new works for the stage.

Dr. Andy Hakin, Sherry Neville-MacLean ’05 ’15 and Chancellor John Peacock ’63

Dr. Andy Hakin, Pauline MacIntosh ’90 and Chancellor John Peacock ’63

Ranim Al Zhouri ’23

Dr. Djanet Sears ’23

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS

ALUMNI PRESIDENT’S RECEPTIONS

Together, StFX Alumni Affairs and StFX Alumni Association local chapters, hosted a series of diverse and engaging events over the past few months. In July, the annual Classics for Classics took place on campus, providing alumni with a unique opportunity for intellectual enrichment. Additionally, throughout the summer, many chapters organized student send-offs to welcome incoming students to Antigonish as the new academic year approached.

Over the course of the fall, numerous alumni chapters hosted President’s Receptions and alumni events including Charlottetown,

Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax. Of note was the gathering of hundreds of StFX supporters cheering on the StFX X-Men Football team as they competed in the Mitchell Bowl at UBC in November. These events brought together many alumni, friends, and perspective students and served as a great networking opportunity showcasing the camaraderie amongst alumni, regardless of grad year! New chapter presidents were welcomed in Moncton, Antigonish/Guysborough, Calgary, and Truro, further strengthening the alumni network.

BOSTON

CHARLOTTETOWN

OTTAWA

VICTORIA

CALGARY

HOMECOMING

In October, Homecoming 2023 was a highlight, celebrating the silver class of 1998 and the golden graduate class of 1973. The weekend featured live music, local cuisine, varsity athletic games, and the inaugural Alumni Recognition Awards ceremony. The ceremony recognized outstanding students, inducted three exceptional individuals into the Hall of Honour, presented the Pride of StFX student and alumni awards, and honoured Halifax, NS as

the Chapter of the Year. Thirteen awards were given out during a morning of celebration, gratitude, and inspiration that served as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact that living by Xaverian values can have on individuals and the broader community. The weekend concluded with a traditional Morrison Hall brunch, providing a heartwarming moment for alumni to share laughter before parting ways.

FROM ALUMNI AFFAIRS l SHANNA HOPKINS ’01, DIRECTOR

CHANGE IS COMING

Happy 2024! As we start a new year, a common tradition is creating a list of goals or resolutions to achieve as we strive to be a better version of ourselves. One of the goals that our Advancement team has established is telling more stories about the amazing things our alumni around the world are doing. To accomplish this, we want to take the time to evaluate our current Alumni News magazine to ensure that we are producing and conveying relevant, compelling stories. Stories that entertain, inspire, and resonate with you. Throughout this edition of the Alumni News, you will see slight changes,

whether that’s in the form of an addition of a new section or the absence of one that appeared in past editions. As we move forward into a fuller redesign process, we remain committed to producing a highquality product that alumni around the world are proud to showcase. And we’ll be looking for alumni feedback on what you most like to see in the magazine. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, if you have ideas for stories, photos for submission, or alumni you feel would make a great profile, please email suggestions to alumni@stfx.ca. We look forward to the process ahead.

Shanna Hopkins ’01

Hail and Health!

Shanna Hopkins ’01 Director, Alumni Affairs

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS

CLASS OF 1998

CONVOCATION & X-RING DAY

Fall Convocation on December 2 saw approximately 300 students graduate. The following day, over 950 X-Rings were distributed on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. Globally, 18 different X-Ring day events

were hosted by chapters, allowing alumni worldwide to celebrate this significant occasion, a fitting end to a year that showcased the vibrant, engaged StFX alumni community.

YARMOUTH

AMHERST

YUKON

SAN FRANCISCO

VICTORIA

HALIFAX

HALIFAX

SAINT JOHN, NB STUDENT SEND-OFF

Chantel ’97 and Jeff ’98 Bishop

“It’s the mystical ‘stuff’ that X alumni know in their hearts when they look down at that ring - and makes it way more valuable than the metal it’s made from.”

FAMILY, COMMUNITY, CONNECTION:

WHY CHANTEL ’97 AND JEFF ’98 BISHOP SUPPORT STFX

Chantel ’97 and Jeff ’98 Bishop got engaged on the steps of the old Oland Centre at StFX just minutes after Jeff›s graduation ceremony. They married in 1999 and live in the Truro, NS, area, where they both grew up.

Almost as long as they’ve been together, they’ve actively supported their alma mater, giving back to StFX for the past 25 years.

The Bishops felt it was important to help when and how they could. Mr. Bishop has volunteered with the StFX Alumni Association board, and together, they have donated to StFX’s Annual Giving Program since 1998.

“Like a lot of X alumni, a sense of family and community strengthened our connection to the university,” Mr. Bishop says. “We both made great friends while in Antigonish, some of whom grew to be like family. The people we grew close to, and that spirit of community that lives on campus became a part of each of us.

“It’s the mystical ‘stuff’ that X alumni know in their hearts when they look down at that ring - and makes it way more valuable than the metal it’s made from. It’s what makes alumni around the world volunteer and give in different ways to the many communities they›re a part of.”

Family and connection have always meant a lot to them.

Following her StFX graduation, Ms. Bishop started working for the Health Authority as an RN at the Truro Hospital, then spent a number of years in a specialized nursing role in a seniors’ clinic. In 2017, she took on a new career challenge by moving into a collaborative practice as a family practice nurse, where she works today.

After StFX, Mr. Bishop earned an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations from Nova Scotia Community College and has spent his career in that field. For the last 11 years, he has served as executive

director in associations in the forestry and municipal sectors.

Their older son is a carpenter working towards his Red Seal certification, and their younger son is in his last year of high school, with plans to study business. The Bishops know how fortunate they are to have their family close, with both sets of parents in the Truro area and their siblings and their families not far away.

They consider StFX part of their community, too, and want to help ensure a thriving future.

“Whether it’s $10 a year, $100 a year, or $1,000 a year, we would encourage all alumni to consider giving what they’re able. Each of us giving what we can ensures that the community we all connected with in our time at StFX—the one built by the alumni who came before us—will be there for generations of students still to come.”

Credit: Portraits by Johanna

ATHLETICS

BANNER FALL SPORT SEASON FOR STFX ATHLETICS

StFX varsity teams had an impressive fall sport season, with our X-Men and X-Women teams garnering five of the six available Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference championship banners, a feat unmatched by any other school.

X-WOMEN RUGBY BACK ON TOP

After the UPEI Panthers snapped StFX’s conference championship streak last season, the X-Women Rugby team are back on top of the Atlantic conference in 2023. They defeated the Panthers 26-22 in a come-from-behind, hard-fought AUS championship game in Charlottetown, PEI. The victory marked the X-Women’s 23rd

title in the 25-year history of the league. They advanced to the U SPORTS championship at Laval, but fell to Guelph in the quarterfinal game.

X-MEN FOOTBALL THREE-PEAT AS AUS LONEY BOWL CHAMPIONS

Football were AUS

third

a

championship

X-Men

champions for the

season in

row, after they earned a 34-23 win over the Bishop’s Gaiters at StFX Stadium this past fall. The title marked their 17th conference championship in team history and fifth out of the past seven seasons

under the tutelage of AUS coach of the year Gary Waterman. The X-Men advanced to the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl semifinal game in Vancouver but fell 47-17 to UBC.

X-WOMEN SOCCER ENJOY UNDEFEATED SEASON

The X-Women Soccer team enjoyed an impressive 12-0-0 perfect record in regular season play and carried that confidence into the AUS championship in Cape Breton, where they defeated Memorial 3-1 in the semifinal and the host Cape Breton team 2-1 in the final, to claim their fourth-ever conference crown and their first since 2016. StFX dropped a close 2-0 game in the U SPORTS quarterfinal match to Montreal.

X-MEN SOCCER WIN FIRST AUS BANNER IN 29 YEARS

The StFX X-Men Soccer team won their first AUS championship banner in 29 years, playing to an exciting 2-0 victory over Cape Breton in Sydney, NS, in the AUS championship game and snapping the Capers’ six-year winning streak. It marked the sixth-ever banner in team history and the first since 1994. The X-Men dropped a close 2-1 game to UBC in the U SPORTS quarterfinal match.

X-WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY WIN THIRD STRAIGHT AUS TITLE AND RUN TO U SPORTS NATIONAL BRONZE

The X-Women Cross Country team ran away with their third-straight AUS championship title in Halifax, NS, this fall, with an impressive five runners in the top seven finishers in the 10km race. The team then ran a spectacular race at the U SPORTS national championship in London, ON, where they earned the bronze medal by placing three runners in the top 10. This is only the second-ever team medal at the national level for the X-Women program, having also taken home bronze in 2007.

X-MEN CROSS COUNTRY CLAIM AUS SILVER MEDALS

The X-Men Cross Country team claimed the AUS silver medal, with a runner-up finish only eight points behind the UNB Reds. StFX had five runners in the top 12 finishe rs of the race, and went on to an 11th-place finish at the U SPORTS national cha mpionship in London, ON.

MICHELLE OBAMA NAMES COADY GRAD MARIA OMARE AS VISIONARY TO WATCH

A British online magazine and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama have recognized a 2015 Coady Institute graduate. In August 2023, Ms. Obama nominated Maria Omare as one of Red magazine’s The Next 25: 25 visionaries to watch.

Ms. Omare took part in Coady’s Global Change Leaders program and is founder of The Action Foundation, which helps build inclusive and resilient communities for children, women, and girls with disabilities in Kenya.

“The Action Foundation has been a refuge for kids with disabilities to learn, grow, and explore their interests for over a decade,” Ms. Obama wrote in the Red article.

“Today, The Action Foundation is not only an institution that’s closing the education gap for children with disabilities, it’s a safe haven for young women to explore their truest passions and be their best selves.”

Ms. Omare says she founded The Action Foundation in 2009 to support children with disabilities and their families in her community by providing a space for them to learn and work.

“A lot of families with children who have a

disability are largely isolated because of stigmas, negative social norms, and attitudes,” she notes. “So if we weren’t here, a lot of them would still be at home, probably going through really challenging mental health issues. Now the kids have a chance to access basic health and education opportunities.”

“We are building the next generation of girls with disabilities who can be coders, engineers, and graphic designers who can leverage this new digital age.”

Maria Omere

Over the past 14 years, the organization has expanded its efforts, and her lessons from the Coady Institute have been beneficial in Ms. Omare’s work. When The Action Foundation outgrew its initial centre, Ms. Omare says the foundation used an asset-based, community-led approach to map out existing buildings within the community to reestablish another center.

(Coady’s ABCD principles are a pillar of its global development practice, wherein

community members combine existing assets to solve communal challenges.)

Now, “the space is truly inclusive and mirrors the support that we wanted to offer the community,” she says. “We realized the community has the power to bring about the change that they want to see. That’s something that helped me navigate through that period.”

In 2021, The Action Foundation won a Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls award, which allowed it to expand its STEM program nationally. The program grew, from 80 to more than 3,000 girls across Kenya. Subsequently, the foundation received funding from The Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance.

The success of the foundation’s efforts impressed Ms. Obama, who’s long been a champion of girls and women.

“We have a program that is Michelle Obama’s favourite, which is enabling girls with disabilities to reimagine what their futures could look like through STEM,” Ms. Omare says. “We are building the next generation of girls with disabilities who can be coders, engineers, and graphic designers who can leverage this new digital age.”

Maria Omare

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check out www.stfx.ca/alumni for a complete listing of upcoming events and up-to-date details.

SAVE THE DATE

MARCH 2, 2024

ALUMNI RECEPTION

Sarasota, Florida

To ensure you don’t miss the invitation, contact alumni@stfx.ca and check that your seasonal and/or e-mail address is on file.

SAVE THE DATE

JULY 1-5, 2024

CLASSICS FOR CLASSICS

Antigonish, NS

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4-6, 2024

HOMECOMING

Antigonish, NS

FRI-SUN, OCT 4-6, 2024

Classics for Classics

The Name?

We call this program “Classics for Classics,” because we study those great works that only improve with age, and we’re teaching them to those great alumni who have some similar characteristics!

This year, Dr. Steve Baldner will lead us in the study of John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government.

Tuition?

We charge a modest fee of $100, but this fee is waived for all alumni. This is our chance to do something for you!

Residence?

On campus accommodations are available. The Alumni Office is still finalizing the room block details and will have more information available in the spring.

Date?

July 1-5, 2024. The first class meets at 9:30 am on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Limits?

We may have to limit enrolment to keep the class size optimal for discussions. It’s advisable to reserve early.

Reserve a Place?

Please contact Alumni Affairs: alumni@stfx.ca • 902-867-2186

alumni@stfx.ca

NEWS EXCHANGE

Send News Exchange items to Lianne Campbell, Alumni Affairs Office

St. Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5

Phone: (902) 867-2186 • Fax: (902) 867-3659 • Email: alumni@stfx.ca

’50s

Joe Kelly ’59 was awarded the Province of Quebec’s LieutenantGovernor’s Medal for volunteering. The award was presented during a ceremony in April 2022.

’

60s

Joe Fougere ‘64 has retired after 24 years with the RCAF and 10 years with NATO and has settled in St. Catharine’s, ON. He has recently published his first fiction novel, High Arctic Odyssey Mystery on Ice

Noah Joseph Smigelski

Emma Catherine Selig (left) born April 27, 2022 with her sister Kate, age 4.

Eleanor Elizabeth Pelley September 16, 2023

Parents: Amy (Bond) ’13 ’14 and Jordan Smigelski Blackfalds, AB Grandson of Alan ’74 & Glenda Bond, former Alumni Assistant.

Children of Laura (Bond) ’10 and Justin Selig ’10. Granddaughters of Alan ’74 & Glenda Bond, former Alumni Assistant.

Emily Miller ’14 and Adam Pelley Proud aunt is Emily Pelly ’15.

James Mooney ‘88 and Adrian Cormier ‘88 celebrated a 40th anniversary of Room 108 MacIsaac in Croatia.

Megan (Bond) ’16 and Corey ’16 McNamara were married on June 10, 2023.

The Griffin family at the dedication of Brian T. Griffin Trail in Windsor, CT. Nancy Griffin ’82, Mary Pembroke Griffin ’77 (Brian’s wife), Joanne Griffin ’81 and Martin Griffin ’79. Brian ’77, who was mayor and judge of probate, passed in Feb. 2012.

Grace McIsaac Havenga was thrilled to be reunited with her X-Ring that she lost in 2014. Thank you, Jasmine for finding it!

Laura Burns ‘17 married Riley Broussard at the StFX Chapel on June 24, 2023

Golden Grads from the Class of 1973, Valerie Bobyk, Lorna Carroll-Plemel, Anne MacKinnon, Anita Khattar-MacDougall, Chris Baldwin-Murray, and Rose Gillis-McDonald, at the Golden Grad Mass.

The Classics for Classics 2023 group.

Lois Paquette, Jack MacDonald ’87 and Mickaela MacIntyre ’19 enjoying Halloween at Brantford School.

Cindy Crossman ’89 and her son Ethan Crossman ’23 recently completed a duathlon and came first in their age categories.

It’s been a busy year for Lora Lewis ’14, welcoming Miela the Golden Retriever and purchasing her first home.

Siblings Ryan Wijayanayake ‘21 and Rajini Wijayanayake ‘23. Ryan was scheduled to complete his MSc in animal science at U of Maine in December 2023. Rajini began her MSc in cyber security at City University of London, UK in Oct 2023

Dr. Andy Hakin (left) catches up with Paul Campbell ’93 (center) and the Hon. Seamus O’Regan ’92 at a recent alumni reception in Ottawa, ON.

StFX alumni enjoying the Rugby World Cup in Bordeaux, France. Sydney Simon ’18, Rob O’Brien ’87, Neil Gillis ’89, Suzanne Anderson ’87, Ian Campbell ’95, Gary Gilks ’87, John Simon ’90, Ian Boyd ’92, Kelly Boyd (Keating) ’94 and Cathy Wilson (Simon) ‘86

Congratulations to Brent Anderson ’79 on reaching a milestone achievement of cycling 125,001 km at the age of 77. Brent is also the father of Craig ’98 and Caren ‘00

Graham P. Haynes ’15, a tax lawyer at Stewart McKelvey, and Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada, Eugene P. Rossiter ’74, at the Tax Court of Canada 40th anniversary event in Toronto in October 2023.

Ian Kemp ‘19 and Brooke MacKinnon-Kemp ’19 married in Whycocomagh, NS on October 7th, 2023. Over 35 StFX alumni were in attendance.

Corporal Eugene J.L. Belliveau ‘80 was inducted into the Order of Canada at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa in April 2023.

Susan Farrell ‘91 ‘92 received an OCSB Director of Education Commendation Award which is presented annually to outstanding role models in the Ottawa Catholic School Board. She and husband Stephen ‘90 ‘92 reside and teach in Ottawa, ON.

Madeline Langevin ‘22 and her Nana were creative with some extra shirts and made a keepsake quilt to remind her of her time at StFX.

Alumae from the Class of 1973 catch up during Homecoming weekend: L to R Debbie Cooney, Peggy Leahey, Jackie Driscoll, Theresa Mancini, Debbie Arnason, Mary Dickinson, Margie Kennedy, Steph Tompkins and Mary Callaghan

Ottawa rugby alumni gathered in July for a BBQ at the home of Steve & Erin Tierney (Stittsville, ON). L-r, Erin Stoqua-Tierney ’98, Paul Campbell ’93 ’95, Ian ‘Eli’ McDonell ’94, Alexis MacDonald ’99, Michelle (Rose) McDonell ’94, Janet (Tierney) Theobald ’94, Mark Buccino ’98, Mark Drouin’ 00, Rory McIntosh ’99, Jamie Bott ’92, Theo Bowes ‘99, Steve Tierney ’93 ’98 , Pat Cusson ’97 ’00

James MacDougall, Class of ’48, joined us to celebrate his 75th Homecoming in October 2023.

An early “Christmas” October lunch for Ottawa alumni from across decades. If interested to join next year, please contact Neil McDonald ’70 (mcdoneil1966@gmail.com) or Kevin O’Keefe ’71 (okeefefamily@rogers.com). Pictured are Neil McDonald ’70, Darryl Mugford ’72, Kevin O’Keefe ’71, Dave Costanzo ’85, Gerry Reid ’70, Alexis MacDonald ’99, Phil Hughes ’66, Virginia Mugford ’70, Richard Keeffe ’70, Karen Hughes, Tom McKenna ‘88, Sue Kehoe ’71, Larry Kelly ’71, Patrick Shanahan ‘89, and Lorraine O’Keefe ‘71

Popular for guests attending conferences, meetings, weddings or even visiting the local area. Our rooms feature private bathrooms, microwaves, fridges, working desks, TVs and access to elevators. Guest amenities include laundry facilities, access to our fitness facilities (pool, sauna and gym, see schedule), ice machine and Wi-Fi. We look forward to seeing you and we welcome back our Alumni!

Our goal is to go beyond your Xpectations! We understand the importance of a successful event. Whether you are planning a leadership conference, corporate retreat, athletic camp, birthday party, or a wedding, hosting at X means creating an unforgettable experience for your delegates or guests. We will take the worry off your shoulders and work with you on designing a unique and special experience! Let us help you organize your event featuring Maritime Hospitality with our in-house Bar & Catering Services. Our experienced Event Coordinator will work with you on a package that meets your needs. With a pedestrian friendly campus, you can park your vehicle when you arrive and pick it up when you are ready to leave.

EVENT SERVICES

• Venue selection & set-up details

• Accommodations & catering requirements

• Meal plan packages

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.

T. 1-877-782-9289

•

HOTEL

T. 902-867-4687 • E. stay@stfx.ca

• Bar service arrangements

• A/V technical requirements

• On Site-Support

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO PLAN YOUR EVENT WITH US.

CONFERENCE SERVICES

T. 902-867-5245 • E. conference@stfx.ca

StFX AlumniNews

DECEASED

Pat Keough ’44

Anne MacDonald ’44

Charlotte Lockhart ’47

Joan Muir ’48

Rosemary Goguen ’49

John Kelly ’49

Mary MacIntosh ’49

Allister MacKay ’49

James Prosper ’49

Richard Gauvin ’50

Bruce MacDonald ’50

Donald Matheson ’50

Wallace McDougall ’50

Walter Miller ’50

Maureen Moore ’50

Leonard Carrigan ’52

Anthony Cormier ’52

Victor Dawson ’52

Irene Leblanc ’52

Arthur Stone ’52

Walter Backer ’53

Condo Sarto ’53

Paul Leblanc ’54

Margaret MacDonell ’54

Joan Ryan ’54

Simon White ’54

Lawrence Brownrigg ’55

Fredericton Fulton ’55

Clotilda McIntyre ’55

Josephine Sears ’55

Michael Godin ’56

Mary Nash ’58

Florence Mullen ’59

Lester Stewart ’59

Helen Cianfaglione ’61

Michael Curry ’61

Charles Gallant ’61

Leo McNamara ’61

Conrad Poirier ’61

Raymond Chafe ’62

Gerald Flemming ’62

Harold Maynard ’62

Augustine Noonan ’62

Paul Luttrell ’63

John Weber ’63

Peter Fergus ’64

Vincent MacDonald ’64

Anne Mombourquette ’64

Terrence Reilly ’64

Paul Benoit ’65

Russell Sampson ’65

George Henaut ’66

John Webb ’66

Margaret Page ’67

Donald Rankin ’67

James Shea ’67

Teresa Butkus ’68

Keith Meagher ’68

Brian Stevenson ’68

Elmer MacDonald ’69

Michael MacIsaac ’69

Barry Bowen ’70

Ellen O’Reilly ’70

Robert Rogers ’70

Lloyd Hines ’72

Helen MacDonald ’72

Richard McConnell ’72

Dennis Ulmer ’73

Peter Cronin ’74

Brian MacNeil ’74

Bernadette Brown ’76

Karen Campbell ’76

Anastasia Sweeney ’76

Kathleen Wray ’77

Marcis Balodis ’78

James MacAulay ’78

Jana MacDonald ’78

Dorothea Housworth ’79

Karleen Carrigan ’81

Margaret MacFarlane ’82

James McFadgen ’82

Kimberley Burns ’84

James Campbell ’84

Neil Foshay ’84, former faculty

Alexander MacGregor ’85

Gregg Keating ’86

James Crocket ’88

Philip Thalmann ’88

Marie Tompkins ’88

Glenn Matheson ’90

Paul Mullins ’91

Maxine MacGillivray ’94

Calvin Jones ’97

Paul Praught ’98

Mary Paulette ’02

Lynn-Ann Campbell ’04

Byron MacAlpine ’04

Mark Fowlie ’10

David Sobey ’10

Veronica Matthews ’15

Pauline Liengme ’17

Sr. Bernardine Burke, former faculty

Colleen Jones, former staff

Bernadette Landry, former staff

Betty Lawlor, former staff

Francis MacDonald, former staff

MANAGING EDITORS

Shanna Hopkins ’01

Email: shopkins@stfx.ca

Kyler Bell

Email: kbell@stfx.ca

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Shelley Cameron-McCarron

Email: sacamero@stfx.ca

WRITER

Shelley Cameron-McCarron

Katie Edwards

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Andrew Conde

NEWS EXCHANGE EDITOR

Lianne Campbell

lcampbel@stfx.ca

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

Lianne Campell

Phone: (902) 867-2186

Fax: (902) 867-3659

Email: lcampbel@stfx.ca

DEADLINES

SUMMER ISSUE

copy deadline April 15 for June mailing

WINTER ISSUE

copy deadline October 15 for December mailing

AlumniNews is published by St. Francis Xavier University Alumni Affairs and Communications two times annually for alumni and friends of the university. Views expressed are those of the individual contributors or sources quoted. Contents, copyright © ’21 by St. Francis Xavier University. Subscriptions to Alumni News are available to the public for $14 a year, single copies $7. Letters to the editor are welcome. Address correspondence to:

AlumniNews

St. Francis Xavier University

PO Box 5000 Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5

Email: alumni@stfx.ca

Phone: 902-867-2186

Personal Information: St. Francis Xavier University gathers and maintains records of personal information for the purposes of admission, registration, provision of educational services, ongoing contact with students and alumni, and soliciting support for these and other University activities. The collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the University is governed by the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, S.N.S. ’93, c.5. Information provided to the University from time to time will be maintained in the University’s records. The personal information provided may be used by University personnel and disclosed to third parties as required or permitted by applicable legislation or in accordance with the purposes for which it is collected. If you wish to have your contact information removed for the purposes of any mailings to alumni from St. Francis Xavier University, the Alumni Association or our Affinity Partners, please send us a note using the contact information on this page.

Alumni, family, students and friends can purchase quality university merchandise online from the StFX Store.

WHO CAN FORM THE LARGEST XAVERIAN FAMILY TREE?

How many X-Rings are in your family?

Do you trace your Xaverian roots back generations? Maybe you and all your siblings (cousins too) graduated from StFX?

We want to hear from you!

StFX is very much a community, and sometimes that community tends to run in the family! Share your family tree story at alumni@stfx.ca for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.

Your local Alumni Chapter is busy planning events that harness the power of Canada’s most engaged Alumni. Expect to see social gatherings, networking events, mentoring sessions, student send-offs, and much more.

DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE ACTION? RAISE YOUR HAND!

To get involved in your local chapter, whether you want to attend, participate or help plan an event, raise your hand, and contact alumni@stfx.ca

XAVERIAN EPHEMERA

Introducing Xaverian Ephemera, in which you can see how well you really know StFX. Each edition of the AlumniNews will feature photographs of people, places, and things that played a role in the history of our university – and we want you to tell us what they are and what they mean to you.

We’ll print some of your answers in subsequent editions.

To kick things off, here are a few that might stump you:

Can you recognize anyone in this photo from 1980? For which building on campus is the sod being turned?

You may have attended an event or two in this space, in a building named for a New Brunswick family that was in the bakery business.

You’ll have to use your imagination – and your knowledge of StFX’s topography – to envisage campus as it is today, and not as it was in this photo. Any guesses as to what replaced the large house on the hill?

This scene from the 1960s was exciting for students, who’d been shooting baskets for 50 years in what’s now known as the Bauer Theatre.

Be grateful for your university experience and be determined to share your knowledge”

–Sheila

Redden, Class of 1968

Sheila Redden is a St. Francis Xavier alumna who is now a resident at Parkland Antigonish.

After graduating 55 years ago, Sheila moved to Africa to become a teacher and then a member at The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. “My time at university was an awakening to adult life. We were expected to be responsible to make good use of time and resources for future use, and to take initiative to contribute to make the world a better place." Sheila has made Parkland a better place with her musical abilities including playing the piano for her neighbours and friends.

Learn more about Sheila’s life at StFX and Parkland at experienceparkland.com/Sheila

Want to learn about Parkland?

Book a personalized tour at any of our communities.

experienceparkland.com