Alumni News - Winter 2019 by Stfx University

StFX AlumniNews

DECEMBER 2019

CONNECTING ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY

A GRAND CELEBRATION THE OPENING OF THE BRIAN MULRONEY INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND MULRONEY HALL BRINGS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS

Congratulations to the Class of 1969 Homecoming 2o19

Larry Allen

Fr. John Barry

Linda Beaton

Joan Cherry

Graham Chisholm

Sandy Clark

Linda Crawford

Don Crosby

Frank Crowdis

Bob Curry

Denise Davies

Fr. Bill Devine

Rita Dinn

Guy Dumouchel

Ken Duncan

Basil Favaro

Cathy Favaro

Vic Fleury

Dini Gallant

Leo Gallant

Peggy Gallant

Paul Gallivan

David Gibeault

John Gillies

Miriam Gillis

Ralph Gillis

Doris Glavine

Christine Hayes

Barb Hill

Bill Kiely

Veronica Lavoie

Anne LeBlanc

Robert Lippens

Leon Livingstone

Beatrice Long

Basil Ludlow

Claire MacDoanld Elain MacDonald Gerald MacDonald Vern MacDonald Wayne MacDonald John MacDougall

Isaac MacEachen Cheryl MacGillivray Colin MacGillivray Joanna MacGillivray Kennedy MacLean Clarence MacLennan Louise MacNabb

Gerry McCarthy

Anne McKeough

Jim McNeil

Orella McNeil

Jane Morey

Janet Murphy

Wendy Murray

Paul Parker

Bill Walsh

Jack Ward

Raymond Medeiros John Mersereau

Marilyn Pembroke

Peter Westort

Costas Halavrezos Velautham Karunakaran

Tom Penney

Carmel Wetzel

Brenda MacNeil

Robert Madden

Alice Mattie

Brian McAuley

Marilyn Metcalfe

Ron Metcalfe

Sharon Michaud

Tom Montanari

Margaret Moody

Marilyn Price

Terry Reed

Mary Richards

Al Smith

Nora Strapps

Neil White

George Williams

Gary Yabsley

Michael Zed

CONTENTS

StFX ALUMNINEWS

The main entrance to Mulroney Hall is captured against a beautiful evening sky.

Feature 8

A Legacy For All Canadians StFX’s new Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall will bring new opportunities for generations to come.

Contents NewsFlash

Features 3

Athletics

Alumni Association Update

Chapter News

News Exchange

Passion For People Dr. Beth McCharles ’01 is helping people be the best they can be.

No Place Like Home With 45 events and several major anniversaries, Homecoming 2019 was a terrific weekend of fun and fellowship.

18 StFX Day 2019 “I can’t believe it’s happening!” Exciting day as X-Ring reminds that you come from a special place.

23 Visit StFX’s online alumni community: www.stfx.ca/alumni StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | KEVIN B. WAMSLEY PhD

INCREDIBLE FALL AT STFX It is a true honour to serve as the President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim) of St. Francis Xavier University. With the role comes many important challenges and responsibilities. But, at the same time, the job brings such reward, satisfaction, and appreciation for the important work being carried out by faculty and staff members and our students. What an incredible year it’s been so far. The times are rare, in the life of a university administrator, when one may experience a project that renders significant positive change upon a campus for generations to come. The Mulroney Hall project is one such instance. There is no doubt that the Mulroney Hall and Nicholson Tower constructions have changed the academic and infrastructural landscape at StFX. Since the beginning of September, Mulroney Hall is abuzz with student activity – studying, group work, and office hours held in informal learning spaces. On September 18, we were pleased to host the Mulroney family and some 300 donors and friends to say thank you for incredible generosities and for the courage and vision to imagine this campus transformation and the accompanying scholarship and research programming support. Three days later we welcomed our campus and Antigonish regional communities to the facility. In addition to serving as one of the most

spectacular academic buildings in Canada, Mulroney Hall immediately fell into service as a site for StFX events. On the weekend of October 4-6, StFX welcomed almost 1,000 alumni back to campus for a weekend of traditional events, sharing stories, and celebrating milestones. Our alumni audiences and staff particularly enjoyed the inductions of several worthy candidates into the StFX Sports Hall of Fame, Hall of Honour as well as the Alumni Awards of Excellence. We were also very proud to open the new Alumni Flag Plaza, adjacent to Bloomfield Centre. This year, we celebrated 50 years of women’s varsity athletics, which became a focal point for many Homecoming activities, including the highly-anticipated X-Women Rugby match where StFX defeated its chief rival, Acadia University, before an appreciative alumni crowd, and the Women of Excellence breakfast. StFX also honoured 25 years of service of Wellspring, the home-away-from-home provided with care and comfort by the Sisters of St. Martha. The sold-out, combined-class Welcome Home Dinner on Saturday night was a great success, with 550 alumni attending. The weekend was capped off by the traditional Sunday brunch, as our hard-working staff bid farewell to loyal alumni and went home to rest after organizing more than 40 events for a very successful 2019 Homecoming. Soon after, Mulroney Hall played host

Dr. Kevin Wamsley during the Xaverian Welcome ceremony.

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Kevin B. Wamsley

to almost 400 prospective students who brought parents and siblings to the third annual StFX Open House on October 19. StFX has been very busy this fall. In addition to our events, students experienced their first Fall Reading Week; and we celebrated Fall Convocation and X-Ring ceremonies in early December. Thank you all for your continued support and remember that StFX is always looking for that certain type of student to bear the standard of the X-Ring. Hail and Health

Kevin B. Wamsley, PhD President & Vice-Chancellor (Interim)

Dr. Kevin Wamsley at Welcome Day greeting new students and their families.

NEWSFLASH WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS AND IN THE StFX COMMUNITY

DR. DANIEL BELLIVEAU ’88 APPOINTED DEAN OF SCIENCE

Dr. Daniel Belliveau ’88 Dr. Daniel Belliveau ’88 is returning to his alma mater—as the Dean of Science, effective January 1, 2020. Dr. Belliveau returns to StFX from his current position as Director, School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Belliveau served in multiple leadership positions during his tenure at Western, including as Undergraduate Chair, School of Health Studies; Director, School of Health Studies; and President, University of Western Ontario Faculty Association. He is described by his colleagues as an innovator in the classroom, an unwavering voice of support for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an engaging leader. A scholar of anatomy, Dr. Belliveau has focused recently on three-dimensional representations of anatomy and their enhancement of the learning environment and the influence of competition on learning. He is the successful recipient of numerous research grants, including from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council; eCampus Ontario – Open Content Initiative; Western Teaching Fellow; Cancer Research Society; Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund; and Canada Foundation for Innovation. Additionally, he has been honoured as the 2019 recipient of the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching, Western University’s most distinguished teaching honour; as well as the 2018 Faculty of Health Sciences Teaching Award of Excellence for Faculty; the 2016 CAUT Distinguished Service Award; and the Faculty of Health Sciences Recognition of Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Belliveau has authored and co-authored numerous papers, book chapters and proceedings, and has presented invited papers. He has given his time and expertise to extensive university committees, and in the community.

SCIENCE AT X COMES FULL CIRCLE

L-r, Dr. Joe McPhee ’99 and Avery Malpass ’20 It’s been just over 20 years since Dr. Joe McPhee ’99 graduated from StFX with an honours degree in chemistry and biology. Now an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson University, his lab studies how bacteria such as Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli) survive the antimicrobial properties of the human body. He credits his love of microbiology to a third year class taught by Dr. Lori Graham in the StFX Biology Department. Recently, he was approached by StFX student and fellow Xaverian Avery Malpass ’20, who was looking for research opportunities in her hometown of Toronto. Ms. Malpass was awarded a highly competitive Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Summer Research Award for 2019. With further support from Ryerson’s Faculty of Science, she undertook a project in Dr. McPhee’s lab examining a family of proteins found in the bacterial outer membrane. Her results showed that some of these proteins are more effective than others at degrading host molecules that protect our body from infection. This may explain why some strains of E. coli can cause human diseases, including urinary tract infections and inflammatory bowel disease, to name just a few, while other strains cannot. Now, Dr. McPhee and Dr. Graham are co-supervising Ms. Malpass as she writes up her research for her honours thesis. According to Dr. McPhee, “Avery has done exemplary work on this project. She has a very bright future ahead and I’m excited to see what she does next. I’m also happy to be giving back to X—a school that has given me so much and helped to launch my career in science.”

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NEWSFLASH l WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS AND IN THE StFX COMMUNITY

STFX STUDENT HONOURED SANDY IVERSON FOR GIVING BACK TO APPOINTED STFX COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

StFX student Claire MacDougall (right) accepts the Kay Thompson Desjardins Award for Social Entrepreneurship from the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce.

Claire MacDougall saw a need and wanted to do something about it. The third-year StFX physics and math student from Halifax, NS noticed that people threw out a lot of school supplies each spring, and that didn’t sit well with her. “I was thinking about ways we could not do this. It’s a lot of waste that ends up in the landfill, and there are people who could benefit from it,” says Ms. MacDougall who had read a report from the Antigonish Poverty Reduction Coalition and was aware of the issue of poverty in the community and how expensive school supplies can be. Around the same time she was mulling over what could be done, she learned of a new StFX award, the McKenna Leadership Project Development Grant that provides a student with a 12-week summer salary to work on a project that addresses a need in the community or at StFX. She applied and was chosen as the inaugural recipient. Through the summer she collected new and gently used school supplies and in August hosted a very successful pay-what-you-can Back to School Ice Cream Social event. Her project turned out to have such an impact that her work was honoured with the Kay Thompson Desjardins Award for Social Entrepreneurship from the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce. The award, named after one of the pioneers of the Antigonish Movement who worked for Moses Coady and StFX Extension, recognizes Desjardins’ contributions to the StFX Extension Department and her advocacy for human rights, and highlights the important role social enterprise, and those involved in social entrepreneurship, have had. Even though the internship has concluded, Ms. MacDougall is already planning another event for this coming summer and as she looks to graduation, she says she has volunteers in place and hopes the initiative will continue on as a society. 4

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Sandy Iverson The StFX community has welcomed Sandy Iverson as University Librarian. Ms. Iverson has a unique and varied career encompassing librarianship and leadership experience in a range of academic and educational settings including specialized academic libraries, university and college experience, and adult literacy and education organizations. The common thread and theme throughout her career has been in supporting students and faculty in research and educational endeavors through a wide range of supportive services and specialized programs. Most recently, she led health information and knowledge programs at St. Michael’s Hospital, one of the primary teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto. Reporting to the VP of Education, Ms. Iverson managed library services, archives, patient & family education, and eLearning and educational technology. Ms. Iverson is recipient of numerous awards and is involved in producing many publications and presentations about libraries services and education. She is currently the Vice-President/PresidentElect with the Canadian Health Libraries Association, as well as a founding member of their leadership institute working group. She is former President and Past-President, Toronto Health Libraries Association. She holds a Master’s of Library & Information Science, University of British Columbia; Master’s of Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto; BA, Library Science, Concordia University; and RP/DipTIRP, Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy, registered with the Ontario College of Psychotherapists.

NEWSFLASH l WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUS AND IN THE StFX COMMUNITY

MCKENNA CENTRE LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS, PATHWAYS TO PUBLIC SERVICE

McKenna Centre Leadership Fellows, l-r, Elizabeth Wallace, Allyson Amodeo, Alejandra Torres, Mackenzie Sly, and Matthew Eliot. Five recent StFX graduates are recipients of $125,000 in scholarship funding and are completing an eight-month paid placement with the federal government in Ottawa, thanks to the recently launched McKenna Centre Leadership Fellows Program at StFX. Matthew Eliot of Kingston, ON; Elizabeth Wallace of Antigonish, NS; Mackenzie Sly of Ottawa, ON; Allyson Amodeo of Kingston, ON; and Alejandra Torres of Honduras; are the inaugural McKenna Fellows, each recipient of a $25,000 scholarship. Program coordinator Larry Swatuk says one of the most exciting things is the program is creating a bridge into public service for youth who have passion and energy. Additionally, he says today’s youth are disengaged with politics, and that’s a problem. “Young people are opting out of the system, they’re not opting in. We’re opening up that pathway so they can become part of the solution.” Mr. Swatuk says the McKenna Fellows Program has connected with the StFX network on the Hill and has been working with, among others, StFX graduate and NSERC vice-president Alfred LeBlanc ’79, who chairs an alumni caucus of StFX graduates working in a range of careers for and in government in Ottawa.

STFX OFFERS NEW POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Dr. Mike Melchin, then StFX Dean of Science, Maica Murphy, Academic Project Coordinator, StFX computer science faculty Dr. Man Lin, Dr. Iker Gondra and Dr. Jacob Levman. Missing are Gina Sampson, Manager, Academic Projects and Planning and computer science faculty Drs. Laurence Yang, Wendy MacCaull, Qingchen Zhang, and James Hughes.

StFX is introducing a new two-year diploma program, the PostBaccalaureate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence (AI), that will provide students with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in the highly sought-after field of AI. The program starts in January 2020, and is intended for students

from any field who already have an undergraduate degree, which is not in computer science. The program is concentrated and rigorous, with at least half of the courses at the upper-year levels. “Artificial intelligence is rapidly growing and is being used more and more to solve a wide variety of problems in both industry and academia. We are very excited that students at StFX will have the opportunity to participate in this timely, emerging field,” say StFX computer science faculty Dr. Iker Gondra and Dr. Man Lin. “What’s really exciting is computer science and AI in general have so much potential applications outside computer science. There’s a big disconnect between people who have those skills and people who need them. This program can really bridge that gap,” says StFX computer science professor and Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics Dr. Jacob Levman. “We can train people for this next generation of skills needed in these wide variety of disciplines.” For more information or to apply, email admit@stfx.ca. StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

ALUMNI PROFILE

Dr. Beth McCharles ’01

HELPING PEOPLE PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS For Dr. Beth McCharles ’01, helping people, from youth to musicians to Olympic athletes, have the confidence to stand up, to raise their hand, to be their best self, is a passion. It’s also a profession. As a leading mental performance coach and speaker, the StFX human kinetics graduate works in empowerment: every day she helps people be the best they can be. “I help performers, meaning coaches, musicians, athletes, artists, executives, anyone in performance, I help them learn the tools to reach their optimal performance or to get them to perform at their highest level. I get to help people pursue their passions,” says the Coxheath, Cape Breton native who became intrigued with the field as a graduate student. At the time, Dr. McCharles, a former dual-sport athlete at StFX, had completed a Masters of Sport Psychology from the

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

University of Ottawa, and was pursuing her PhD in Behavioural Exercise Science from the University of Toronto. She was also coaching varsity women’s soccer at the University of Toronto and the national military team. More and more, she realized how important sports psychology is in performance. “I felt a lot of younger women lacked the confidence, but also the belief system, in themselves. I wanted to help these young women, to make young girls and women feel comfortable and gain confidence and be able to stand out and be awesome, to develop that leadership. All those traits are an avenue to build so many essential tools for life.” Her own experience as an athlete also gave insight into mental performance. “The mental side of the game was so important to me because I was a small

athlete. (She’s 5΄3˝.) My mindset was the difference for me to be successful.”

HALL OF FAME, KEYNOTE Dr. McCharles certainly made a mark during her StFX student days, earning a degree while playing two varsity sports— soccer and hockey. At Homecoming 2019, StFX recognized her achievements twice over—she was inducted into the StFX Sports Hall of Fame and was invited to deliver the keynote during a breakfast celebrating 50 years of women’s varsity athletics at StFX. She counts both as proud accomplishments. “I felt honoured to be asked to speak at the breakfast. There are so many remarkable women who came out of StFX. “It’s really special to me, being inducted. I’m not sure that it’s completely sunk in,” adds Dr. McCharles, who was back at her alma

Dr. Beth McCharles ’01 delivers the keynote address during a breakfast celebrating 50 years of women’s varsity athletics at StFX.

Running into old friends is one of the joys of returning to alma mater. Pictured, l-r, are Doc Ryan ’78, Dr. Beth McCharles ’01 and Graham Kennedy ’90.

mater with her husband and three children. “To be able to share this with my family, for them to see why I talk about this place so much is special. StFX has been part of my heartbeat since I left.” Over four seasons with X-Women soccer, she starred, a national caliber goalkeeper, earning 1998 AUS most valuable player honours, and becoming the second ever X-Women soccer athlete to garner first team all-Canadian status. In 2000, she earned all-Canadian recognition on the second team, and was named an AUS first team all-star. Additionally, she was part of three AUS X-Women hockey championships, playing defence. “I like being busy,” admits Dr. McCharles, who’s continued that trend in her professional life. She’s the mental performance coach for coaches and athletes at Ryerson University, a facilitator and mentor with the Canadian Sport Institute, a Canadian Sport Psychology Association consultant, and a board member for the Artists’ Health Alliance and North Toronto Soccer Club.

L-r, Dr. Katie Edwards, Dr. Beth McCharles ’01, Dr. Peggy Gallant ’69 and Wendy Langley ’92 at the breakfast celebrating women’s varsity athletics.

Additionally, she runs a private practice in Toronto where she’s worked with organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Hockey Canada; Nike Inc; Basketball Canada, Canadian Armed Forces and USPORT. She’s participated in eight international games as an athlete, coach, or mental performance coach. Back at StFX, she spoke of how sport helped in her journey and what we can do to keep the equality movement for girls and women in sport and leadership moving forward. “It feels so great to be speaking about such an important issue,” she says. It was impactful at StFX, she says, to see women in sport, including having female soccer coaches, and inspiring faculty like Dr. Peggy Gallant ’69. “She’s a woman of grace and humour. She’s smart, a trailblazer, a women full of life. That’s a woman I aspire to be.” It’s a lead Dr. McCharles certainly followed: working to be an advocate for women in sport, to role model the way, and to still have fun.

Common issues Dr. McCharles sees, and her advice. • People need to believe in themselves. You don’t have to be perfect to move forward. Take risks, even when you don’t feel 100 per cent ready. We need to believe in ourselves and our strengths, and use that power tool, to believe in it and practice it. • “My power thing is work hard. I really believe in working hard to get to where you want to go.” • Check in with the amount of time spent on social media. It can affect performance. Dr. McCharles says about 90 per cent of people she asks say social media decreases their confidence. “We need to stop comparing ourselves, and try to be non-judgmental.” • Implement mindfulness. Be in the moment. • Learn to make simple decisions, without soliciting friends and others for advice. “If we empower our young girls to do that, when they’re in the executive boardroom, they’ll have the confidence to make a decision, to put their hand up.” • Develop personal relationships. Be kind. Be there for each other.

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“It is therefore a special moment in my life today to participate in a ceremony marking the opening not only of splendid new buildings at StFX—a place I love—but, more importantly, the beginning of grand new opportunities for young Canadians and others from around the globe to learn, lead and help build a better world for us all.” The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney ’59 The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney’ 59

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

A LEGACY FOR ALL CANADIANS StFX’S NEW BRIAN MULRONEY INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND MULRONEY HALL WILL BRING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. BY SHELLEY CAMERON-McCARRON When Brian Mulroney ’59, future prime minister of Canada, first arrived on the StFX campus in the fall of 1955, he was 16 years old, wearing the only blazer he owned, and carrying a cardboard suitcase. Some 64 years later, in a journey that took him from lively StFX student debates to the House of Commons and onto the world stage, Canada’s 18th prime minister has never forgotten the impact of StFX—the leafy, Ivy Leaguestyle campus where he found opportunity through education, friends of a lifetime, and learned of the power of ideas to transform a country. “For me, arriving at StFX in the fall of 1955… I knew it opened the door to a wider world,” said Mr. Mulroney in an emotional and inspiring speech as he returned to his alma mater September 18, 2019 to celebrate the grand opening of The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall, a $52-million, four-storey, state-ofthe-art building. The facility is home to a new undergraduate program in public policy and governance, modern teaching, research and study spaces, and a robust $16 million earmarked for student scholarships and bursaries and $10 million for academic programming and faculty research chairs. StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

"It is therefore a special moment in my life today,” he said, “to participate in a ceremony marking the opening not only of splendid new buildings at StFX—a place I love—but, more importantly, the beginning of grand new opportunities for young Canadians and others from around the globe to learn, lead and help build a better world for us all.” Visitors stepping into Mulroney Hall, designed by the architectural firm Moriyama and Teshima, also find inspiration of what indeed is possible—memorabilia and cultural exhibits from Mr. Mulroney’s years of public service are highlighted in alcoves, pods and walls throughout the building while Mr. Mulroney’s recreated office while he was prime minister from 1984-1993 serves as centerpiece.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES Just months after opening, Mulroney Hall and the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government are already being heralded as one of the most remarkable academic facilities in Canada. “The academic contributions of the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, empowered by this stunning facility, have already

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

taken St. Francis Xavier University to a new level,” says StFX Interim President Dr. Kevin Wamsley. “Not only does it write a compelling narrative about teaching and learning…about spaces to collaborate and to work, this project is an investment in people. It’s about independent research and scholarship, innovation, building the capacities of intellectuals, grappling with the issues of our day. “The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall provide new opportunities for the StFX community, a platform from which we can deliver our academic mission in new and exciting ways,” he says. “We are extremely grateful to Prime Minister Mulroney and his family for making this vision a reality. It’s a project that entrenches StFX as a national and international destination for leadership, receiving widespread support both at home in Canada and from around the world.”

DEEPLY GRATEFUL “How blessed are we that Mr. Mulroney chose Nova Scotia, StFX, and Antigonish, to be home to this magnificent building and

“In many ways, StFX is where it all started for my dad. It’s here where my dad learned how to make a difference.” The Honourable Caroline Mulroney

“For us, it certainly was inspiring to see someone from a small school, someone from our school, could achieve such success.”” StFX Board of Governors Chair Mike Boyd ’85

learning institution,” Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said during the opening ceremony, held in the architecturally-stunning 93,000 square foot glass-walled building, as he noted the gift Mr. Mulroney has given the province and country—a learning foundation that all can build on. “This magnificent institution could have been placed anywhere in this country. You chose to put it here. We are deeply grateful. We will never forget,” said the Hon. Frank McKenna ’70, fellow StFX graduate, former New Brunswick premier, and an instrumental part of the fundraising campaign. Mr. Mulroney, who was accompanied to the opening by his wife Mila and their family, personally raised $65 million from private donors and led the efforts securing $30 million from the federal government and $5 million from the provincial government to create the cornerstone of StFX’s Xaverian Commons Project. He expressed sincere gratitude to the generosity of donors who made this day possible. He also noted something near to his heart: a highly impressive and generous new scholarship and bursary program, including some $16 million to help young students acquire a StFX education.

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Over 200 scholarships are available annually, including awards specifically designed for marginalized populations such as Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities.

EDUCATION KEY PATH During the ceremony, Mr. Mulroney paused with emotion when he recalled a pivotal, long-ago conversation with his father Benedict while growing up in Baie-Comeau, QC. He told his father of a new apprenticeship program at the mill where the senior Mulroney worked as an electrician, where children of employees could train as tradesmen. “My father’s reply is engraved in my memory: ‘I know, Brian, that times are tough, and we could sure use the extra money you would bring in. But I have learned one thing: the only way out of a paper mill town is through a university door – and you are going to university. And that is how I wound up at StFX.” What did he find at the university? “At StFX, from outstanding professors in philosophy, history and

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political science, I learned about the power of ideas to transform our country, from one century to the next. “At the end of the day, I also learned that big ideas are about leadership and fundamental change.” Mr. Mulroney says when he graduated from StFX, he had no money, no connections and no influence. “But I had two things of far greater worth: a degree from StFX and the values that had been inculcated into us by a superb faculty and university leaders, here in Antigonish.” What was it about StFX, then and now, that attracted many of the best and the brightest, he asked? “For me, and thousands like me, that’s just what StFX represented: Not a big city, but a big opportunity. “And today is all about how the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government can help StFX enhance its role in this vital area of opportunity and leadership so as to better serve the citizens of our beloved nation and the wider world.” This institute, he said, is open to all and their ideas: “Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, Conservatives, Greens, NDP and others,

“How blessed are we that Mr. Mulroney chose Nova Scotia, StFX, and Antigonish, to be home to this magnificent building and learning institution.” Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil

will find a home here marked by fairness, objectivity and scholarship of the highest order. “It was a high honour for me to be of some service to this special place.”

FOCUS ON STUDENTS StFX Board of Governors Chair Mike Boyd ’85 remembered as a StFX student meeting Mr. Mulroney, who was back on campus for his 25th Homecoming only weeks after being elected Canada’s 18th prime minister. “Then as now, he demonstrated his focus on students,” Mr. Boyd recalled. “For us, it certainly was inspiring to see that someone from a small school, someone from our school, could achieve such success.” The Hon. Caroline Mulroney, MPP, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Francophone Affairs, Government of Ontario, noted how StFX really opened the world for her father. “In many ways, StFX is where it all started for my dad.

…it’s here where my dad learned how to make a difference,” she said, as she too offered thanks to all who helped make this day possible. She said it came to no one’s surprise that StFX was chosen as the home for her father’s Prime Ministerial Library. But she said the family believed her dad’s legacy required something more, something that would honour the Brian Mulroneys of the future, providing young people with the skills and tools they need, providing scholarships and bursaries, insightful faculty and real world opportunity. “When you have the tools you need, you can make a mark on the world in a way you never thought possible. “This is our hope for the Mulroney Institute,” she said as she noted how proud and inspired her family is and how they can’t wait to see students roll up their sleeves and get to work just a like a boy from a small town on the north shore of the St. Lawrence did so many years ago.

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ABOUT MULRONEY HALL • Mulroney Hall, connecting upper and lower campus, is 93,000 square feet over four floors. • The building was designed by Moriyama and Teshima, the architectural firm that designed the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, and the Museum of War in Ottawa. • The building contains an exact replica of the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney’s office when he was 18th Prime Minister of Canada; immersive pods housing a repository of videos of Mr. Mulroney’s speeches and appearances; a digital photo album including pictures of the diverse visitors Mr. Mulroney met while in office; and a touchscreen interactive electoral map, based on federal electoral maps from 1984 and 1988. • While Mulroney Hall is a testament to the political legacy of one StFX’s most esteemed alumni, it is not a museum. It is a working educational facility, offering the best classroom and technology to students. • It houses 15 classrooms, ranging in size from 40 to 80 seats, as well as the Maple League Telepresence room, allowing students to take classes from any of the four Maple League universities, which include StFX, Bishop’s, Mount Allison and Acadia. The 300-seat Barrick Auditorium provides a venue for music, theatre and debate. • The building’s Joyce Family Atrium is a large, multi-level space, the ‘campus living room,’ situated and designed as an active, animated

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student gathering and interaction space. It houses a café, mixed-use seating and a large fireplace • Among the unique architectural features is Scholars’ Walk, an airy, inspiring multi-purpose space. • The building is served by a geothermal heating and cooling system.

ABOUT THE BRIAN MULRONEY INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT • The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is led by founding director, Dr. Donald Abelson, the Steven K. Hudson Chair in Canada-US Relations. The institute’s research endeavours are spearheaded by its chairs, including those committed to promoting thoughtful understanding of Canada-US relationships, Arctic and Marine Security, and Democracy and Governance. • The institute is guided by two principal goals: To explore pressing issues policymakers face at all levels of government and to provide interdisciplinary training to undergraduate students committed to civic engagement and the pursuit of leadership roles in public policy and governance. • Housed in Mulroney Hall, the institute and the four-year Public Policy and Governance Program (PGOV) provide the environment for students, faculty, and visiting fellows to undertake research and work with the next generation of Canadian leaders.

MULRONEY HALL

IMPRESSES STUDENTS Blake Rowe Second-year biology student Moncton, NB

Marquis Diggs Fifth-year human kinetics student East Preston, NS

classes to happen here. It’s not just for arts or science or a certain faculty. It’s cool how they’re all mixed together. There’s lots of space to work. We’re lucky. This building has a background behind it and is named after someone who has done so many good things for our country. It’s an honour to be in a building dedicated to someone who has held a special place at StFX.” Lindsay Hogan First-year nursing student Wolfville, NS

Q. What do you think are the main benefits of Mulroney Hall for students? A. “It’s a nice spot to sit and study. You can come here and grab a snack at the café, there’s more room for study, and the classrooms are nice.” Lane Cormier Second-year aquatic resources student New Glasgow, NS.

Q. Is there a certain feature you really like about Mulroney Hall? A. “You pretty much have everything here. It’s in the middle of campus and it’s close to everything. It’s really nice. Having the new study space is really beneficial, and it’s near classes. I like the (Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney career) timeline on the walls. It’s like a working museum.” Kathleen Dolan First-year health sciences student Halifax, NS

Q. What’s your impression of Mulroney Hall? A. “There’s lots of natural light and positive energy. I like all the windows. It’s pretty central. Between classes, you can stop in and get an hour’s work done. I like how (the building is named after a StFX alumnus) it ties back to the school.”

Q. What do you like best about Mulroney Hall? A. “I like how it’s bright and open. It’s not too noisy. It’s a good study space, I love it! I really like the front foyer with all the windows and the café. It’s a really good place to meet up for group work. I like the high tech throughout the building. It’s everywhere. You can plug in your laptop and not have to move. It’s a great place to meet for coffee, get a snack, go to classes. Most of my classes are here. It’s a convenient, well-built building. You feel like you’re in a professional building with all of the artifacts.”

Q. What’s your impression of Mulroney Hall? What do you like best? A. “It’s stunning. The whole building. It’s massive and it allows for a lot of different

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

$16 MILLION RAISED TO CREATE 200+ ANNUAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES Student scholarships, bursaries, and experiential internships are a significant and defining feature of StFXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the Public Policy and Governance (PGOV) program. Purposely created to ensure StFX attracts the best and brightest to attend, regardless of financial background, just some of the student funding opportunities available each year include:

$120,000

The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney Scholarships Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$80,000

The Sobeys Scholarships Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$60,000

Irving Family Scholarships Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$48,000

Mila Mulroney Scholarship for African Nova Scotian Students Open to African Nova Scotian students enrolling into the PGOV program directly from high school or to African Nova Scotian students already enrolled in a BA with a major or minor in PGOV, or a major in political science, economics, developmental studies, or women and gender studies.

$48,000

Dahdaleh Scholarship for Indigenous Students Open to all Indigenous Nova Scotian students enrolling into the PGOV program directly from high school or to Indigenous Nova Scotian students already enrolled in a BA with a Major or Minor in PGOV, or a Major in Political Science, Economics, Developmental Studies, or Women and Gender Studies.

$48,000

The Weston Family Scholarship for International Exchange Provides funding for student international exchanges. Awards are valued at up to $6,000 each for students enrolled in a BA with Major or Minor in PGOV.

8 awards of $15,000

8 awards of $10,000

12 awards of $5,000

16 awards of $3,000

8 awards of $6,000

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

$100,000

Joyce Family Bursaries First-year recipients must be enrolled in the PGOV program. Bursaries will be renewable in second, third, fourth years for students who have declared a major or minor in PGOV. Bursaries are also available to students already enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program and taking courses in Public Policy and Governance.

$50,000

RBC Foundation Research Internships Eight awards each year will support summer research internship awards for students enrolled in Bachelors programs at StFX.

$36,000

J. Armand Bombardier Internships Six awards each year to support full-time summer employment within a public policy or governance-related position at a government or non-government organization. They will be awarded to students enrolled in a BA with major or minor in PGOV at StFX.

$16,000

4 awards of $4,000

Scotiabank Entrance Scholarship Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$12,500

Guy R. Savard Bursaries Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$10,000

David & Hildegarde Mahoney Scholarship This award is available to a student enrolling in the PGOV program directly from a U.S.-based high school.

$10,000

Michael Mulroney Scholarship Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$8,000

David Marley Scholarship Available to students enrolling in the PGOV program directly from high school.

$7,000

Thomas O’Shea Scholarship Available to students enrolling directly from high school.

$7,000

Bogdanka Pivnicki ˇčki Scholarship Available to students enrolling directly from high school.

$7,000

Olive Mulroney Elliott Scholarship Available to students enrolling directly from high school.

$7,000

Sister Peggy Butts Bursary Available to students enrolling directly from high school.

$4,000

Eldee Foundation – UN Service Learning Bursary Available to students participating in Model UN.

100 awards of $1,000-$4,000

8 awards of $6,250

6 awards of $6,000

1 award

4 awards of $2,500

4 awards of $2,000

4 awards of $1,750

4 awards of $1,000

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

4 1 Paulette McKenna ’82 accepts the Chapter of the Year award on behalf of the Eastern Cape Breton Chapter 2 Young Alumna of the Year Ashley Ward ’04 3 Sr. Brendalee Boisvert accepting the Friend of StFX Award on behalf of Wellspring 4 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award to Archbishop Martin Currie ’64 5 Xaverian Spirit Award to Linda MacDonald

STFX WELCOMES NEARLY 1,000 ALUMNI HOME IN LARGEST

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION There’s nothing quite like coming home—and for nearly 1,000 StFX alumni who stepped back onto campus Oct. 4-6, Homecoming 2019 was a wonderful weekend from start to finish. “We welcomed home one of our biggest crowds ever and saw four events sell out. It was a terrific weekend of fun and fellowship as alumni returned to their alma mater to reconnect and share in the Xaverian spirit,” says StFX Alumni Affairs director Shanna Hopkins ’01. Homecoming 2019 was jam-packed with 45 events, including celebrations to mark 50 years of women’s varsity athletics at StFX, including at the Saturday afternoon athletic game, which spotlighted X-Women Rugby, powerhouse dynasty with six national titles since 2006. (And yes, the X-Women won.) Four new Xaverians were recognized for an outstanding life of service as they were inducted into the Hall of Honour: the late Dr. Leo H. Killorn Sr. ’45, Walter Chambers ’68, Helen Castle ’56 and Basil Ludlow ’69. Also honoured at the ceremony were this year’s Student Alumni Recognition Award recipients, Katelynn D’Albertanson, Victoria Morley, Megan Fraser and Liam Elbourne. 18

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

More honours came during the Welcome Home Dinner where Alumni Awards of Excellence recognized Archbishop Martin William Currie ’64, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year; Ashley Ward ’04, Young Alumna of the Year; Wellspring Centre, Friend of StFX; Eastern Cape Breton alumni chapter, Chapter of the Year; and Linda MacDonald, inaugural Xaverian Spirit Award. A special presentation also recognized the StFX Alumni Association founders. Weekend highlights were many, including the opening of Alumni Plaza on upper campus in recognition of the 125th anniversary of the StFX Alumni Council; the 20th anniversary presentation of the Katherine Fleming International Development Award, to Yvonne Marimo, during Coffee with Coady; the Golden Grads dinner celebrating the Class of 1969; numerous class reunions and mix and mingles; a historic campus walking tour led by StFX history professor Dr. Barry MacKenzie ’07 and the History Society; a buffet breakfast celebrating 50 years of women’s varsity athletics with a keynote by Dr. Beth McCharles ’01; the StFX Sports Hall of Fame induction; numerous varsity athletic games; and the Mount St. Bernard Tea.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

2019 HOMECOMING CLASS REUNIONS

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StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT:

StFX WELCOMES CLASS OF 2023

The smiles were contagious as new students and their families stepped onto StFX campus August 31 for Welcome Day 2019. Music pumped, members of the student Orientation Crew—O-Crew— cheered, and staff and faculty were out in full force to welcome the Class of 2023—including StFX President Dr. Kevin Wamsley, who personally greeted everyone who arrived onto campus. The message? Welcome to the Xaverian community—it’s going to be a great year! “It’s so welcoming, it’s been great,” says Patricia O’Callaghan of Scarborough, ON, who helped her daughter, first year student Clara O’Callaghan, register and get settled. “It’s very good, very organized and very relaxing,” said Clara, a humanities colloquium student who chose StFX because of its academic program and the vibrant community. Pàdruig MacDonald of Miramichi, NB, a fluent Gaelic speaker, starting in the computer science program, said he is excited as he has always wanted to attend StFX. His parents, Ellen (Doyle) MacDonald ’92 and Goiridh Dòmhnullach ’92, are alumni, and both had great things to say about their experiences. The values of the university also lined

up with his own, including the camaraderie in the community and the focus on helping one another. Dr. Wamsley personally greeted everyone as they made their way into the Keating Centre, into a showcase designed to introduce first year students to StFX, make them feel welcome, and provide the information they need for their time at university. Family and Friends Information Sessions were held throughout the day, while the Auxiliary Arena served as a StFX Services Showcase with information booths on over 30 student services and activities. “We are so happy you chose StFX over all the other universities in the world,” Dr. Wamsley told students during the President’s Welcome ceremony. “You chose us for our outstanding professors, our outstanding staff, our unique community residential atmosphere, our small class size because professors and staff will know your name, because you will have incredible leadership and service opportunities, because we will give you the tools to make a difference in this world – StFX is community like no other.”

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

A CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT AND TRIUMPH OVER CHALLENGE

FALL CONVOCATION 2019 Spirits were high in the Charles V. Keating Centre as family, friends and loved ones gathered to watch the newest group of StFX graduates receive their degrees and diplomas at StFX’s 2019 Fall Convocation, held December 1. StFX conferred over 200 degrees and diplomas during the ceremony, spanning programs at the diploma, bachelor, and masters level. The hard work and perseverance displayed by graduates over their course of studies was noted by Dr. John Peacock ’63, University Chancellor. “I have no doubt that each of you bring a unique story of struggle, challenge and achievement,” he said, before challenging graduates to consider how they will make the world “a better, safer, and happier place.” “Your generation is fighting against the destruction my generation has caused,” said Dr. Peacock. “I urge you to think carefully about the role you’ll play. And I hope that StFX has formed you into the type of person who won’t run away from a challenge.” Dr. Peacock’s comments were seconded by Dr. Kevin B. Wamsley, President and Vice-Chancellor of StFX, who implored students to embody the values that are championed by the university.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

“Use your StFX degree to build bridges between people to solve problems in this great country. We are at a time of great polarization and disagreement. Build bridges to help us find our way.” StFX awarded an honorary degree to Dr. Helen Vari, a Canadian philanthropist and the President of the George and Helen Vari Foundation. Dr. Vari has been a lifelong supporter of education, academic research and the preservation of cultural heritage. Also honoured during the ceremony were StFX biology lab instructor Regina Cozzi, recipient of the 2019 Outreach Award, and Lindsey Arnold, instructor with StFX’s Continuing & Distance Education department and Student Success Centre, who received the 2019 Outstanding Staff Teaching Award. S.A.F.E. (Syria-Antigonish Families Embrace) received the 2019 Community Partner Award in recognition for their tireless work to give Syrian families displaced by conflict the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Antigonish. Graduate Kyle Sarka delivered the graduating class address and Marc Rodrigue ’08, president of the StFX Alumni Association, extended congratulations to the new graduating class on behalf of entire StFX alumni network.

StFX DAY 2019 It’s a moment that members of the StFX family say they cherish forever, and one that aspiring Xaverians look forward to for years. On December 3, 2019, it became real for over 900 senior St. Francis Xavier University students, who received their coveted X-Rings. “It doesn’t feel like it’s actually happening!” exclaimed one excited student as she entered the ceremony. Indeed, as students processed towards the main stage and received their X-Rings, StFX’s Charles V. Keating Centre could hardly contain the excitement. “The X-Ring is the symbol of your experience here at StFX, and of your commitment to community,” said StFX President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kevin Wamsley. “So give back to your community like the graduates before you, and give back to StFX. Honour your X-Ring by serving others. The world needs it, badly.” Guest speaker Maggie MacDonnell ’02, a StFX alumna who won the 2017 Global Teacher Prize, offered a reflection on her takeaways from being a student, and how they are all encapsulated in her X-Ring. “To me, the X-Ring is something tangible to represent all of those meaningful, but intangible, lessons that StFX taught us. So when you get your ring, know that it’s your reminder you come from a special

“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S HAPPENING!”

place. A place that values community, and those skills that make the world go around.” Senior class students participated throughout the ceremony. Jonas Lawrence, co-president of the senior class, served as master of ceremonies, while Nicholas Latulippe greeted the students and their families. Senior class co-president Taylor Kennah gave opening remarks, while Samantha Bardwell gave an explanation of the StFX motto. Maxwell Gauthier read from the writings of Dr. Moses Coady. Joanna Alphonso introduced the guest speaker and Emma Kyte gave the response. Students’ Union president Cecil VanBuskirk led the Xaverian Commitment.

HONORARY X-RING The honorary X-Ring is presented annually to someone who personifies the Xaverian spirit. This year, it was awarded to Dr. David Cudmore, a general practice physician in Antigonish who has served as medical leader of the StFX Athletics sports medicine team for over 30 years. Dr. Cudmore was lauded for his compassion, professionalism, and his outstanding concern for the wellbeing of StFX student athletes.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

CAMPUS NEWS STFX LAUNCHES CLIMATE SERVICES AND RESEARCH CENTRE

STFX STUDENTS PRESENT RESEARCH AT CANADIAN ECOTOXICITY WORKSHOP

L-r: Dr. Corrine Cash, Dr. Andrew MacDougall, Dr. Hugo Beltrami, Dr. Patrick Withey. Missing: Dr. Lisa Kellman

StFX has launched a new research centre on campus that is intended to serve the regional community as it develops and disseminates advanced climate models and data to provide practical information on the physical, social, and economic impacts of climate change. The Climate Services & Research Centre (CSRC) will function as a hub that offers services, including creating regional predictive climate modelling scenarios that will help anticipate potential climate change consequences and serve as a guide to develop adaptability strategies in response to projected future climate, to organizations of all types. “There has been a need for this type of service for a long time, and we now have new capabilities to produce regional climate model simulations that will help produce evidence-based solutions to regional climate change problems, and develop adaptation strategies that are applicable specifically in the region,” says Dr. Hugo Beltrami, a StFX earth sciences professor and Canada Research Chair in Climate Dynamics. Members of the centre will work as a team to produce models, and to provide analysis and potential solutions, depending on what questions they are being asked to investigate. Faculty researchers comprising the newly created CSRC include Dr. Beltrami, Dr. Corrine Cash, Dr. Lisa Kellman, Dr. Andrew MacDougall and Dr. Patrick Withey.

OCT. 2-4, 2020

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

L-r, Megan Fraser and Ella Maltby

StFX students Ella Maltby and Megan Fraser had their research accepted for presentation at the 46th Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop in Quebec City, held Oct. 6-9, 2019. The two say their supervisors, StFX faculty Dr. Jim Williams and Dr. Russell Wyeth alerted them to the opportunity and encouraged them to submit abstracts to present at the national annual meeting. Ms. Maltby, a master’s biology student from Antigonish, NS co-supervised by Dr. Williams and Dr. Wyeth, gave both a poster and an oral presentation, reflecting the two parts of her thesis work. The poster presentation focused on the contaminant survey she conducted on lobster tissue from around coastal areas of the Northumberland Strait, a baseline survey for Boat Harbour remediation. Her oral presentation focused on the behaviour experiment she is conducting with juvenile lobster exposed to cadmium, a heavy metal that may be found in polluted or contaminated waters. Ms. Fraser, of New Glasgow, NS, a fourth year aquatic resources student taking an advanced major in biology and supervised by Dr. Williams, gave an oral presentation on her work projecting forward to Boat Harbour, Pictou County, NS, a body of water receiving effluent from a nearby mill for over 50 years, and how the ecosystem will be able to return to its pre-industrial condition, including understanding what types of marine grasses and small organisms might be able to live in the pre-industrial sediments once remediation of the site is complete. She’s been conducting research on the topic with Dr. Williams for the past two summers, including this past year as an Irving Research Mentorship Award recipient. She says their goal is to prepare an official report for Nova Scotia Lands and eventually to publish the research in a journal.

NATIONAL FUNDING FOR FOOD CHEMISTRY RESEARCH

Dr. Marcia English Innovative food chemistry research on the StFX campus received a big boost with the news that human nutrition professor Dr. Marcia English has received nearly $200,000 in research funds, including an $88,626 John R. Evans Leaders Fund award from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and $88,626 in matching funds from Research Nova Scotia to purchase research equipment for her project, “Food Chemistry Research Platform for Investigating Aroma-active Compound Interactions in Plant-based Proteins.” Dr. English says receiving the grant is important and exciting as it allows her to bring new equipment to the university to provide new research opportunities. The combined funding has provided a gas chromatographmass spectrometer with olfactory detection (GC-MS/O) and a preparative chromatography system for protein purification. “This equipment is very timely since there has been an increased interest to replace and/or reduce the levels of animal protein with plant-based proteins in traditional and novel food products,” she says. “Moreover, this equipment has provided new opportunities to train undergraduate and graduate students at StFX with interdisciplinary skills in protein and flavour chemistry, which will be beneficial for various placements in the food industry.”

WELLSPRING CENTRE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AS PLACE OF WELCOME

To understand the warmth the Sisters of St. Martha have shared with the campus community for a quarter of a century through Wellspring Centre—celebrating its 25th anniversary this year—is as simple as stepping into Wellspring’s space on the second floor of Morrison Hall, filled with plants, soft lights, tables and seating. For 25 years, Wellspring has been an oasis in the middle of campus, where students, staff and faculty can stop in for a cookie, some fresh fruit and a bit of peace. On Oct. 4, the Marthas celebrated the anniversary during StFX Homecoming weekend with an open house. As well, to mark the milestone, 16 stories from students now hang in the University Chapel, sharing the importance of the gift of the Marthas in creating Wellspring. Several Marthas also provided stories, sharing the history of Wellspring. Wellspring opened in September 1994 as a means for the Marthas, a congregation founded in Antigonish in 1900, to maintain a StFX presence when the convent closed in August of that year. “We’re not about programming. We’re really about presence,” the Sisters have said over the years. “Our main goal is to serve the university community.”

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS OVER $7.7 MILLION INTO NCCDH AT STFX

L-r, StFX President Dr. Kevin Wamsley, Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, and Nova Scotia Minister of Health, the Honourable Randy Delorey.

StFX welcomed a major investment in health on Aug. 26, 2019 as the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, and Central Nova MP Sean Fraser ’06 announced more than $7.7 million over eight years for the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), hosted at StFX. This renewed funding is to support research and evidence-based knowledge exchange to improve health equity for Canadians, and will enable Canada’s public health community to take action on the social determinants of health, helping to close the gap between those who are most and least healthy, they said. “The work of the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health is essential in helping tackle challenges, which not long ago were not thought of as health issues. The stable funding announced today will help find new ways to improve our health care systems and to address disparities in access to health services across the country,” Ms. Petitpas Taylor said. StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

ATHLETICS STFX X-WOMEN WIN THEIR 21ST AUS CHAMPIONSHIP

The StFX X-Women won their 21st AUS championship banner in team history with a 29-17 victory over conference rival Acadia. The X-Women finished with a 6-0 record and went on to place fifth at the U SPORTS national championship. They lost to a tough Guelph squad in the championship game, but came back with wins over UBC and Acadia to claim the fifth spot.

FALL SPORTS WRAP UP ACTION The fall sport varsity season has wrapped up at StFX. The X-Men football team finished in fifth spot with a 2-6 record and out of playoff contention for 2019. X-Women soccer was third in the conference with an undefeated 7-0-5 record and lost out in the AUS quarterfinals in a 2-1 heartbreaker to Memorial in penalty kicks. The X-Men soccer team had a successful year in second place (9-2-1) and were AUS finalists, taking CBU to double overtime in the championship game before falling 2-0. At the U SPORTS national championship, the X-Men placed seventh. On the cross country trails both the X-Women and X-Men placed second overall at the AUS championships. On the national scene, the X-Men placed 16th overall, while the X-Women were 18th.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

ATHLETICS

StFX was proud to welcome newly inducted Class of 2019 members into the StFX Sports Hall of Fame over Homecoming weekend. Inductees include (Back, l-r): Bart Sears representing Dr. Cecil MacLean posthumously (Builder ’31), and Dr. David Cudmore (Builder); and (Front, l-r): Dave Liem (Soccer ’87), Dr. Beth McCharles (Soccer/Hockey ’01), and Andy Culligan (Hockey ’74).

X-Men football quarterback BAILEY WASDAL participated in the CFL’s Canadian Quarterback Internship Program with the Ottawa RedBlacks this past summer. Ten quarterbacks from across the country were embedded with CFL teams at training camps, participating in practice drills as well as team and positional meetings while they continued to develop and hone their skills at the quarterback position.

X-Women hockey defense LINDSEY DONOVAN competed with the U SPORTS women’s hockey all-stars at Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase in Calgary in August. The all-stars were 2-3 as they played against a pair of teams from the national women’s development team selection camp, along with games against Japan and France. This was the second consecutive year that Donovan was named to the roster, and she served as an assistant captain.

Former X-Men hockey goaltender CHASE MARCHAND signed a professional contract for the 2019-20 season with the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, the affiliate team to the Chicago Blackhawks. He is currently playing with their affiliate in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the Indy Fuel.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

STFX COADY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE

Gord Cunningham (right) speaks with Matuluko Ephraim Oduboye in the Marie Michael Library, Coady Institute.

COADY GRAD QUENCHING THIRST AT X How does one go from working with street kids in Lagos, Nigeria to a university classroom in Antigonish, Nova Scotia? For Matuluko Ephraim Oduboye it is through a lot of hard work and sacrifice. A 2014 graduate of Coady Institute’s Diploma in Development Leadership program, Mr. Oduboye says Coady’s robust program inspired a thirst for knowledge. “It showed how you can’t look at things with a singular perspective and that we need to open our mind,” he says. “When you do so you develop strong reasoning regarding cultural and developmental issues. Coady was able to help me dig into that.” After returning to Nigeria, Mr. Oduboye worked for Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration and USAID using his skills to help organizations that were illustrating the ability to work together in the area of economic development. He also took part in a pilot program of using technology to promote accountability with the government that “was very corrupt.” Another program looked at ways to help those suffering from malaria by preventing the spread and addressing the cause. “Instead of spending money on buying drugs and losing work time because you are sick, let’s prevent it,” he says. “While I was there we distributed 20 million nets across 28

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

the state that I worked.” Yet the thirst for knowledge remained. He returned to the StFX campus in the fall of 2018 to major in development studies. “I wanted to come back almost immediately,” Mr. Oduboye says. “It was a beautiful experience and I felt that to be adequately equipped with the knowledge for development it was essential to develop myself further.”

Development studies student Matuluko Ephraim Oduboye during the Development Studies/Coady Institute Global Forum on Climate.

While migrating and being an international student from a developing country is usually difficult because one has to illustrate the ability to pay, Mr. Oduboye says he was fortunate. His record of being at Coady and for taking a human rights training program in Montreal allowed him to establish a level of trust to apply and obtain a visa.

While it is challenging to be apart from his wife and child, he has received great support from his extended family and the StFX community. He says the professors are welcoming and that he believes he provides a unique perspective in classroom conversations such as the global issues forum on climate held with development studies students and Coady participants. Mr. Oduboye is also embracing the Xaverian experience by volunteering with X-Project as well as the Youth Activism Conference where he helped in training students to be involved in social justice issues and to seek social reform. “I want to make people conscious, which is key to internalizing what we are learning and for having the impact that we want to accomplish.” He says the practical experience at Coady and the more academic experience at StFX has given him the best in education and is empowering. He hopes to graduate in the fall of 2020 and return to Nigeria and utilize what he has learned in communities to help them identify their strengths and make them self-sustaining. “I love the knowledge, the environment,” Mr. Oduboye says. “I love the people, they are beautiful. I love my own development. I love my professors and what I am learning about development.”

DIPLOMA IN

ADULT EDUCATION National Program of Excellence

Canadian Association University Continuing Education

DUE TO ALL THE CHANGES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY CANADA POST

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE ALUMNI OFFICE HAS YOUR CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS ALUMNINEWS IS PUBLISHED TWO TIMES PER YEAR. DON’T MISS OUT!

Excellence is what St. Francis Xavier University’s Diploma in Adult Education is all about. It is the #1 choice among adult educators and HRD professionals. Now in our 38th year. It is available to you in major centres across Canada or ask about our in-house programs. Our 2020 schedule includes Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary.

Limited enrollment – 30 seats per module www.sites.stfx.ca/adult_education_diploma/ Email: dipaded@stfx.ca Toll-free: 1-800-563-7839 Fax: (902)867-2486 Business hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm AST

BE SURE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IS CORRECT WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.

ALUMNI@STFX.CA

The Alumni Affairs office sends many invitations in the mail each year. We’d like to do our part to reduce this paper usage and redirect postage costs to alumni programs by sending invitations by email to our grads whenever possible. We can only do this if we have a current email address for you. To make sure we do, please send an email from your address to alumni@stfx.ca with the subject line ‘save trees’ and we’ll make sure our email invite list is up-to-date. Thank you! The air feels fresher already!

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The StFX Alumni Association is currently looking for one at-large member to sit on their council. For more information or to express your interest, please email Shanna Hopkins, shopkins@stfx.ca StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

LETTERS

X-RINGS AROUND THE WORLD

KING OF THE HILL Richard Keeffe ’70 set out on a trek on the Old Inca Trail over four days/three nights and is seen here arriving at the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu early in the morning, about 6 a.m.

RAISING THE RING TO SCOTLAND’S ETERNAL BEAUTY

GREETINGS FROM MONGOLIA

Adam Noel ’08 ’10 and Elvis Rodricks ’07 were international students at StFX and met up in Mongolia during the annual historic Nadaam Festival games. “Warm wishes and regards to the Xaverian community in the Nish! Proud Xaverians always,” they say.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

On a recent trip to Scotland with Sandy Travel, Xaverians raised their rings at Sligachan Bridge on the Isle of Skye. The waters that flow under Sligachan Bridge are believed to be enchanted and have the magical power to grant eternal beauty. The group says they are anxiously awaiting results! Left to right are: Harvey Beaton ’83 ’84, Ron MacEachen ’81 (tour director), Laureen (Beaton) Murphy ’77 ’78 ’04, Mary Jessie (MacDonald) MacLellan ’87 ’18, Joan (Beaton) Currie ’64 ’80 and Mary Farrell wearing the X-Ring of her late sister Colleen Kennedy ’92 ’94.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UPDATE l MARC RODRIGUE ’08, PRESIDENT

OUR STFX TRADITION Tradition. It is a heritage that we can all share, and as alumni, we can all shape, in our Xaverian family. It is alive and well, in all its various forms, today on campus. To some, tradition is an annual event, to others, a legacy of values. To us, it is both. Times and events may change, but our tradition is rooted in the values of community, of coming together including during Homecoming, of keeping learning a part of our priorities, and, to steal a line from Scouts Canada, to “leave things better than we found them.” At this year’s Homecoming, our StFX tradition was alive and vibrant, and not only found on the field where our long-dominant X-Women Rugby team played to a 57-12 victory! We celebrated our tradition in inducting five new entrants into our Hall of Honour, all of whom espoused our shared values: the founders of the St. Francis Xavier University Alumni Association, Dr. Leo H. Killorn Sr. ’45, Walter Edward Chambers ’68, Helen Castle ’56 and Basil Ludlow ’69. Each of our inductees has earned our pride since

graduating from StFX. We celebrated our tradition in the ongoing inspiration we find on campus, with our Alumni Recognition Awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of Katelynn D’Albertanson ’22, Victoria Morley ’21, Megan Fraser ’20 and Liam Elbourne ’19. And to the stylings of Terry Kelly, we celebrated the great additions to our tradition contributed by this year’s Alumni Awards of Excellence recipients, Ashley Ward ’04 (Young Alumna of the Year), Archbishop Martin William Currie ’64 (Distinguished Alumnus of the Year), Wellspring (Friend of StFX), Linda MacDonald (Xaverian Spirit Award) and our Chapter of the Year, Eastern Cape Breton. We can all continue to contribute to the tradition of StFX, in large and small ways, in our local communities, nationally and internationally. We are so very lucky to count amongst our members so many volunteers, community leaders, business and not-for-profit thought leaders, committed activists, and committed social changers.

StFX Alumni Association president Marc Rodrigue ’09 presenting an Alumni Recognition Award to recipient Katelynn D’Albertanson during the Hall of Honour ceremony. Katelynn is from Kelowna, BC and is currently in her second year.

And when alumni give back to the university, with contributions both modest and large, including those who have contributed and supported the new Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, we can help those who will all carry our traditions forward. Go X Go, Hail and Health, and a joyous holiday season and new year to all those in our StFX family. Hail and Health! Marc Rodrigue ’08 President, StFX Alumni Association X

FROM ALUMNI AFFAIRS l SHANNA HOPKINS ’01, DIRECTOR

PJILA’SI – ALUMNI PLAZA OFFICIALLY OPENS

L-r, StFX Alumni Affairs staff Janine Linthorne, Shanna Hopkins ’01, Glenda Bond and Maddy Horne ‘19 spent the afternoon of December 6, 2019 delivering cookies to students studying for exams.

I want to use this time to reflect on a very important ceremony that took place during Homecoming on Saturday, October 5. The theme of Homecoming 2019 was celebrating major milestone anniversaries: 50 years of women’s varsity athletics, 25 years of Wellspring and 20 years of the Katherine Fleming Award at the Coady International

Institute. This year also marked the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the StFX Alumni Association and to celebrate this special occasion the StFX Alumni Association officially opened Alumni Plaza. One year ago, the Alumni Association made a commitment to provide funding for Alumni Plaza, which is now the official home to the university flags

and provides a beautiful green space with limestone benches that will be used for years to come by students, faculty and staff not only for a meeting or studying place, but also as an informal learning space. On Saturday afternoon, the official opening ceremony included former Alumni Association presidents presenting flags to current StFX students. Once all five flags were affixed to the poles, they were raised as a fiddle version of ‘O Canada’ was performed by Anna Ludlow ’05. Also included in the ceremony were an official blessing by Bishop Brian Dunn and a smudging ceremony performed by Kerry Prosper, Paqtnkek First Nation. Alumni Plaza is aptly named ‘Pjila’si - the loving hearts of a loyal people.’ Pjila’si meaning welcome in Mi’kmaw and the second portion, “the loving hearts of a loyal people,” is an excerpt from Dr. Alexander MacDonald Thompson’s speech at the 52nd anniversary of the university in September 1905. Hail and Health! Shanna Hopkins ‘01 Director, Alumni Affairs X StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS FOOTBALL REUNION WEEKEND

This September, we held the official opening of the Shea Family Football Locker Room. Football alumni from all ages gathered back on campus for a weekend event featuring the official opening ceremonies of the locker room, a flag football game, and capped off with a dinner Saturday evening with this year’s team.

X ATHLETICS AT USPORT NATIONALS

StFX Athletics teams have competed in three U Sport national championships so far this season. StFX alumni, friends and family members all braved the cold weather to gather and cheer on the Blue and White at cross-country nationals in Kingston, ON; women’s rugby nationals in Ottawa, ON and men’s soccer nationals in Montreal, QC this fall.

WOMEN OF X-CELLENCE AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS HIT THE ROAD WITH THE X-WOMEN

In celebration of the 50-year anniversary of women’s varsity sports, the Alumni Affairs Office teamed up with StFX’s Women of X-cellence to show our support for our female athletes as they competed on the road around the Maritimes. Pre-game events were held for soccer, rugby and cross-country, and in the new year, we will be attending hockey at UNB, basketball at CBU, and track & field in Saint John!

OCT. 2-4, 2020 32

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

PRESIDENT’S RECEPTIONS

This past August, we kicked off our alumni receptions with a visit to DiProfio Winery in Jordan Station, ON. This winery is owned and operated by Joseph DiProfio Sr. ’60 and Carollyn Desjardins. This set the stage for a busy fall travel schedule hosting President’s Receptions from coast to coast. We began on the north shore of New Brunswick at the Gowan Brae Golf Course in Bathurst, NB. We were delighted to have Taylor Kennah, current Senior Class Co-President, join us in her hometown for this reception. From Bathurst, we headed to Moncton, NB, where we had a great evening with our alumni at Gusto Italian Grill and Bar. Next was London, ON, where we were joined by Don Abelson, Director, Mulroney Institute of Government, who provided an update on our newly opened Mulroney Hall. We then travelled down the 401 and had a great reception on Bay Street in Toronto. From here we travelled south and hosted two receptions in the state of Maine, Portland and Bangor, and then on to see our alumni and friends in Calgary. To round out our travel season, we hosted receptions in Halifax and Pictou County, NS; Pembroke and Ottawa, ON; and finished with a great reception and StFX celebration in St. John’s, NL.

CALGARY

HALIFAX

LONDON

OTTAWA

PEMBROKE

PICTOU COUNTY

PORTLAND

TORONTO

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

CHAPTER NEWS

TORONTO

HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH THE STFX ALUMNI COMMUNITY Hello StFX alumni, My name is Maddy Horne and I am the new Programs Coordinator for Alumni Affairs. I graduated from StFX this past spring with a BA in human kinetics. I am so happy to be back on campus and working with all our fabulous alumni chapters. In my short time in this role, it has already become clear to me that the StFX alumni community has a unique ability to connect and engage with alumni around the world. This is apparent as I have already worked with chapters from London, UK to Vancouver, BC to plan StFX events. Be sure to reach out to your local chapter so you can be a part of these fun gatherings of fellow alumni. I look forward to meeting and working with more of you in the future! Maddy Horne â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19, Programs Coordinator, Alumni Affairs Contact your chapter president for upcoming X-events in your area. 34

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

TORONTO 2019 has been a busy and successful year for the Toronto chapter! Our annual Boat Cruise occurred on a beautiful June afternoon, as nearly 100 local alumni hopped on board and took a trip around Lake Ontario. Food and drinks were shared on the water, with many laughs and memories shared. Next, we grabbed our gloves and headed to the ballpark in September for a Toronto Blue Jays game! We had 50 excited alumni come out for a bite and a beer prior to the game, then we headed to the Rogers Centre to cheer on the boys in blue. While the outcome of the score was less than desirable, there was a lot of cheering, chanting, and an overall great experience for everyone. Finally, our Toronto Alumni X-Ring Celebration event took place on a chilly November evening, with nearly 100 alumni spanning across multiple generations coming to celebrate

YARMOUTH the upcoming X-Ring Day at StFX! We were very fortunate and thankful to have the class co-presidents, Jonas Lawrence and Taylor Kennah, fly in for the event to update us on the growth and evolution at StFX, while also bringing world-famous Wheel Pizza with them for us to enjoy! We are very excited to see what 2020 holds. On behalf of the Toronto chapter, congratulations to all new X-Ring recipients, and Happy Holidays to everyone! John Whelly ’11 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA On December 9, 2019, we attended a Golden State Warriors game. We had the opportunity to watch the pre-game shoot around and have a little ‘Alumni Social’ before watching the Warriors faceoff against the Grizzlies. Special thanks to Warriors front office man, Ross Thompson ’93, for helping us secure tickets! Catherine “CJ” Healy ’98 YARMOUTH The Yarmouth chapter is up and running for the 2019-2020 season with some new events. Chapter rep Maureen Duffy-Mason ’78 attended the National Alumni Council meeting in the spring of 2019 and returned to the chapter with some great ideas! The first event of the year, held in late September, was “PUB NIGHT” at Heritage Brewery in Yarmouth. It was a good time and chance to see old friends and meet a few new ones. As usual, the “X” cookies, made by Michelle Parsons ’02 were a huge hit! Also, special congratulations to Mary Eldridge ’59 who returned to StFX at the very end of the month to celebrate her 60th Homecoming!

StFX Day was celebrated on Nov. 30 at the home of Liz (Burns) ’85 and Larry Richards. “Heads and Hands” was the theme of the night as alumni were encouraged to bring mittens and gloves to donate to local elementary schools. Upcoming events being planned are a pub night at Tusket River Brewery, pool at Dooley’s, and the Winter Blues Party. Stay tuned for more details! If you aren’t getting messages about the events, please contact “X” with your updated contact info and email Maureen at: mduffyma@eastlink.ca. Maureen Duffy-Mason ’78 STRAIT HIGHLANDS On October 19, over 65 StFX alumni and friends gathered in the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre to celebrate our university. StFX Interim President Dr. Kevin Wamsley brought greetings from our alma mater and shared some news. Attendees were pleased

to hear of several new program offerings in addition to the opening of the new, and beautiful, Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall. The reception took place just before the closing concert for Celtic Colours, so everyone was excited to celebrate together! Everyone at the reception appreciated the effort that the StFX Alumni Office put into planning this event. Thank you! Flo Campbell ’83 ’84 ’05 OTTAWA The StFX Ottawa chapter had a busy summer! In June, we celebrated the 13th Annual Atlantic University Pub Night, bringing together alumni and friends of Atlantic universities in Ottawa for a night of food, drink, and music, all benefiting the Ottawa School Breakfast Program. At the end of the month, we sailed the Ottawa River on our first boat cruise. In July, we held

FREDERICTON StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

CHAPTER NEWS

OTTAWA the annual golf tournament that boasted over 65 golfers at Cedarhill Golf and Country Club. The weather was perfect and the course was in pristine condition for a day of golf with alumni and friends, both old and new. This year’s tournament was won by the foursome of Matthew MacDonald, Scott Conroy, Rob Kyte and Murray Kyte, with a combined score of -9. The key to a great tournament is the people in it, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group. At the end of August, we held our annual Student Send-off BBQ for a large group of soon-tobe first year Xaverians and their families. We enjoyed welcoming Interim President Dr. Kevin Wamsley to Ottawa for a President’s Reception in November and celebrating StFX Day in December! New to the city or want to

keep up to date with chapter events? Contact us at ottawachapter@stfx.ca . Zak Lewis ’14 Kathleen Sheridan ’15 EASTERN CAPE BRETON The Eastern Cape Breton chapter was honoured to receive the “Chapter of the Year” award during Homecoming 2019. It recognized all the hard work and challenges we faced trying to get people out to events. In August, we held our annual Student Sendoff at Membertou Lanes. New students, parents, alumni, and university staff had a wonderful time bowling a few strings and enjoying some food. In addition, we were pleased to have Mary Jessie MacLellan ’87 ’18 from

Recruitment and Jessica MacLellan ’12 from the Alumni Office join us to answer student and parent questions. Connections were made and fun was had by all! On December 3, we held our StFX Day Mass and social at St. Theresa’s Hall. Alumni always enjoy this opportunity to reconnect and talk about their time at X. Finally, if you are living in Eastern Cape Breton and are interested in joining our executive please email eastcapebreton@stfx.ca. We are in need of a few more members in order to keep organizing events for alumni. We welcome anyone from any grad year, especially new alumni. Chris MacKinnon ’02, ’09

SAINT JOHN

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

FLORIDA CALGARY Thank you to all the wonderful StFX alumni in the Calgary chapter who made 2019 such a great success! We are thankful for everyone who volunteered and gave their time throughout the year to make all our events so memorable. In November, we had the pleasure of hosting StFX Interim President Dr. Kevin Wamsley and several other StFX administration and staff to join 70+ alumni at the President’s Reception. The very next night, we sold over 400 tickets to the Signal Hill concert in Calgary and raised thousands of dollars that will continue to support the Leone Campbell Memorial Bursary and other chapter events in 2020. Special congratulations to Zoe Warrington who was the 2019 recipient of the Leone Campbell Memorial Bursary. We ended the year with the StFX Day Mass celebrated on December 3rd with Fr. Bill Stephenson ’57, StFX family, and friends. We look forward to a new year filled with special events and more opportunities to bring our StFX community together in Calgary. If you are interested in volunteering with the chapter, please email us at calgarychapter@stfx.ca. Hail and Health!

LONDON London Xaverians had multiple occasions to connect with each other through several great events. On Saturday, August 17, the London chapter held its annual StFX Student Send-off. It was wonderful to see a number of alumni and several current students out to support our local students embarking on ‘whatsoever things are true’ at X! We were also privileged to have President Kevin Wamsley out to the Windermere Manor in London for a President’s Reception for Alumni & Friends on October 22. The event was well attended by long-time and new alumni. Local alumni had the opportunity to hear from Kevin regarding all of the exciting changes happening at StFX and also hear from Dr. Don Abelson, inaugural Director, Mulroney Institute of Government, on all of the initiatives taking place to build this world-class program. Lastly, we all reunited for the annual X-Ring Day celebration dinner on December 3, Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier, at Fionn MacCool’s to enjoy each other’s company and the spirit of the season.

Alexia Tedesco ’09

Dan Belliveau ’88

FLORIDA The Florida alumni chapter held its annual gathering at the Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club on March 9, 2019. After our meet and greet, Mass was celebrated by Fr. Patrick Wilson of St. Martha’s in Sarasota. We were honoured to have representing StFX, President Kent MacDonald ’86 ’93, Iain Boyd ’75, Chief Campaign Officer for the Xaverian Fund, and Maria Hartery ’87, Planned Giving Officer. After a very nice luncheon, Dr. MacDonald provided an update on StFX activities and future endeavors at the university. With the 50/50 raffle, auction and generosity of our alumni, we were able to provide continued support to our Florida Bursary fund. These funds are used to assist students in need of financial aid during the year. Bursaries awarded in 2018-19 were in memory of Richard “Dick” Dumais ’57. I would like to thank the members of the Florida chapter committee who assist in making our annual alumni luncheon so successful – Dr. Michael MacKinnon ’57 and his wife Mary, and Marie MacDonald ’58 ’59. We have confirmed that our next annual Florida alumni gathering will be Saturday March 14, 2020 at the Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club in Sarasota. All StFX alumni and friends are invited to join us in the Florida sunshine. If you would like to have your name added to our email distribution list for information on this event, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@stfx.ca or call 902-867-2186. My contact information is mkachorn@msn.com or call 813-962-3549. Kathy Achorn ’71

AMHERST

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Bronwen Campbell, West Vancouver BC Schwartz National Scholar 2019 ($80,000)

WANT TO RISE ABOVE THE REST? THEN STUDY WITH THE BEST. The Gerald Schwartz School of Business at StFX attracts the top students from across the country.

And when you’re surrounded by the best, you’ll be inspired to be your best. Here, you’ll study in smaller classes with hands-on learning from accomplished professors with real-world business experience. You’ll form lifelong friendships, and go on to join the ranks of Canada’s strongest alumni network—instant connections, A N T I G O N I S H , N O VA S C O T I A

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

eager to help you on the next step of your journey. business.StFX.ca

UPCOMING EVENTS Check out www.stfx.ca/alumni for a complete listing of upcoming events and up-to-date details. JANUARY 11, 2020 Hockey @ UNB Pre-Game Reception FEBRUARY 1, 2020 Basketball @ CBU Pre-Game Reception

Distance Education Programs for

FEBRUARY 22, 2020 Track & Field @ Saint John Pre-Event Reception MARCH 14, 2020 Alumni Reception* Sarasota, Florida *Make sure your seasonal address/email is on file with us so that you don’t miss the invitation. alumni@stfx.ca JULY 6-10, 2020 Classics for Classics, Antigonish, NS

REGISTERED NURSES Applications are being accepted until June 30 for classes beginning in September. The Post RN-BScN program was awarded accreditation by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) in 2019. • Bachelor of Science in Nursing • Certificate in Gerontological Nursing • Certificate in Continuing Care Nursing

OCTOBER 2- 4, 2020 Homecoming, Antigonish, NS

OCT. 2-4, 2020

• Stand alone Nursing Courses • N490 Forensic Nursing • N497 Computers in Nursing • N483 Hospice Palliative Care Nursing

Toll-free: 1-800-565-4371 Email: distance.nursing@stfx.ca Stfx.ca/DistanceNursing

MASTER OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT St S tFX StFX

PART-TIME DISTANCE PROGRAMS Students may complete Master of Education programs in Educational Administration and Leadership or a variety of Curriculum and Instruction areas. These part-time programs require one month of study on campus in July. The remainder of the program can be completed online over a two-year period. These programs may be completed by coursebased, project, or thesis routes.

LOST X-RINGS LOST Man’s ’68 Woman’s ’88 Woman’s ’98

Man’s ’99 Man’s ’04 Woman’s ’11

Woman’s ’13 Man’s ’16 Woman’s ’18

Contact the Alumni Office at 902-867-2186 or alumni@stfx.ca

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR FULL-TIME GRADUATE STUDY StFX admits a limited number of full-time graduate students annually who wish to develop capacity in teaching/leadership or applied research. Students are paired with faculty who provide them with internship opportunities related to university teaching and field experience in the BEd program and/or research. Students who choose the research-based option may have the possibility of participating in funded research programs in collaboration with full-time faculty. For more information or to receive an information package, contact Continuing and Distance Education: Tel: 1-877-867-3906 or (902) 867-3906 E-mail: med@stfx.ca

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

NEWS EXCHANGE Kate Josephine Selig Born September 6, 2019

Laura (Bond) ’10 and Justin Selig ’10 Jake David Porter July 2, 2019

Krista ’12 ’14 (Lynds) and Kurtis Porter ’14 ’16 Elena Mary McGee March 31, 2019

Caitlin VanKeymeulen ’16 April 20, 2019 Airdrie, Alberta

Katie Armitage ’10 ’12 married James Cobb 40

’70s

Peter Milewski ’71, mortgage industry consultant turned writer, has authored a book, “Feel Good and Do Well by Doing Good,” that implores financial institutions to “do the right thing.”The motivation for the book was the author’s concern that financial institutions are forgetting the lessons learned during the financial crises of the past decade. Since its release in June, the book has been the #1 new release in business ethics on Amazon, where it is available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook. Mr. Milewski is a consultant and motivational speaker whose career covers five decades in the banking and mortgage lending industries; with national mortgage insurers MGIC and RMIC, Mellon (Bank) Mortgage Company, and Embrace Home Loan. He was a past president of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association, and the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. From 1999 to 2017 he was the director of Home Ownership Lending at the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency and director of the Massachusetts Mortgage Insurance Fund. Anne Emery ‘74 has won the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel for the 10th book in her mystery series, Though the Heavens Fall. The story is set in Belfast in the troubled times of the 1990s. The award is given by Crime Writers of Canada. Don MacLean ’76 released a new book on July 4, 2019: With These Hands-Traditional Arts, Crafts and Trades of Atlantic Canada (Nimbus 2019). The book is a pictorial and narrative profile of Atlantic artisans

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Send News Exchange items to Glenda Bond, 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

and their crafts, from dories to whirligigs. It is his third book. The first was Discover Nova Scotia Sportfishing (Nimbus Publishing 2003) and the second was: A Little Thing I Tied Myself-Atlantic Canadian Fly Tiers and Their Flies (Nimbus Publishing 2006). Don retired in 2015 as director of inland fisheries with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture after a 32 year career with the province.

’80s

J. Robert Walsh ’81 has received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation Award. Mr. Walsh has spent most of his life and multiple careers in service to others, mostly involving military members and veterans. A Canadian Armed Forces veteran, he is an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion, and is a strong advocate for veterans. Among his efforts, he negotiated a partnership between George Brown College’s Dentistry Program and the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command to provide veterans with dental care they cannot otherwise afford. This initiative is now part of the Royal Canadian Legion’s, “Operation: Leave the Streets Behind” program. He is also the liaison between the Peel Regional Police and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 15 for the program and fundraises to provide care, gift hampers and gift cards for veterans. Additionally, he was instrumental in organizing roundtables with government officials to bring to light the needs of veterans. Dr. Fran Hurley ’83 has recently accepted an offer to serve as a consultant to the World Bank. Since completing her doctorate at

Harvard, she has worked as a literary consultant in the U.S. She has also spent some time working for the Education Department at StFX. Carole A. Beaton ’84, most recently a Justice of the Supreme Court Family division, recently received an appointment to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. She was made a provincial court judge in 2003 and was admitted to the bar in 1988. Stuart Sankey ’87 was recently awarded the “Urban Hero Award” for sports in Toronto 2018. His ‘The Stu Sells Series’ is now seven events. At all events, they raise money for the Stu Sells Supports Foundation, which donates money to young struggling curling teams to help achieve their dreams. His Oakville event this year will have 72 teams from across Canada and the world, making it the largest tournament for curling. His Toronto event is the only Olympic qualifying event in the city, and his U18 event is the largest in North America with 48 teams and takes place each year in Barrie. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard, where it all started. Judy Donovan Whitty ’87 and her husband Doug Whitty ’68 ’75 ’83 recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They currently live in Charlottetown, PEI. Two of their children, Dr. David Whitty ’93 and Dawn Whitty ’94 graduated from StFX. Dr. Anita Palepu ’88 has been appointed Head, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, effective September 1, 2019 to

June 30, 2024. In this role, Dr. Palepu will provide leadership for over 120 academic faculty and 800 clinical faculty engaged in teaching, service and research from basic biomedical research to health service delivery. Dr. Palepu is a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Since September 2015, she has served as division head of General Internal Medicine at UBC and Providence Health Care as well as the physician program director for the St. Paul’s Hospital Medicine Program. As a scientist at the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Dr. Palepu leads a research program in urban health research with particular interest in vulnerable populations. She is the Vancouver site lead for the MedSafer study, to test if intervention can improve safe prescribing for elderly hospitalized patients. She has also been an associate editor for the Annals of Internal Medicine since 2010. A StFX honours chemistry graduate, Dr. Palepu is the daughter of retired chemistry professor Dr. Rom Palepu.

’90s

Samuel Moreau ’91, who served on the Family Court in Amherst, received an appointment as a Justice with the Supreme Court Family division. He received appointment to the Nova Scotia bar in 1998. He holds a bachelor’s degree from StFX, where he also played and later coached football, earning the AUS volunteer coach of the year award in 2002. Juanita Romard ’91 says since graduating from StFX, her teaching career has led her to many adventures, experiences, and accomplishments, including the most recent one where her fourth

graders investigated the work of National Geographic Explorer Carolina Chong Montenegro. Students learned about the ecologist’s research on the Pacific goliath grouper and developed potential solutions to overfishing. Juanita is a teaching vice principal at Coxheath Elementary School in Coxheath, NS. Roe McFarlane ‘93 has been appointed president of Follett Higher Education Group in Chicago, which manages more than 2,700 physical campus locations and eCommerce platforms in North America. Prior to this appointment, he was chief digital product and marketing officer leading the development of Follett’s innovative technology and content tools. Roe was a former chairman of council and class valedictorian during his StFX student days. When he graduated from StFX, he worked for Frank McKenna ’70 in the Office of The Premier, and he says that experience set his career trajectory in business. The two still keep in touch with Mr. McKenna calling him to congratulate him on his promotion to president of the Follett Higher Education Group.

’00s

Stephen O’Brien ’01 is the COO and managing director of Canada’s oldest and largest shipyard, Chantier Davie Canada Inc., in Lévis, Quebec. This is the highest position on site, which is a major accomplishment, especially considering Stephen isn’t 40 years old yet! Andrew Howlett ‘02 is delighted to host an event in memory of his father, David Howlett ’70, and in support of future students at StFX. The David Howlett QC ‘70 Memorial Golf and Reception will take place August 8, 2020 at Berwick Heights Golf Course, Nova Scotia. All are welcome to join for golf, food, prizes and more. Proceeds in

support of StFX. For more information please contact alhowlett@gmail.com. Margaret Hughes ’07 ’09, one of our first sport nutrition interns, is now the lead performance dietitian for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marco Diaz ’08 has landed an amazing job as people and culture manager for La Z Boy Furniture Galleries of Greater Vancouver.

’10s

Marielle Lespérance ’10 recently won the 2019 World Adult Highland Dance Championship at the Cowal Highland Gathering. Marielle is a seven-time World Champion, nine-time Commonwealth Champion, and 14-time Canadian Champion in highland dancing. She is the current Adult Canadian and Adult World Highland Dance Champion, and is a strong advocate for highland dance, sharing her passion through competition, teaching and performance. She now runs her own dance school in Dartmouth, NS. Marielle has performed internationally, both solo and with various productions and musicians, and continues to perform with the highland dance company Change of Step, of which she is a founding member. Marielle says she owes her passion and success in dance to her instructor of 20 years, Ellen Cameron, and to Janice Macquarrie, with whom she trained while completing her Bachelor of Science in physics at StFX. Marielle also holds a Master’s of Science in medical physics from Carleton University. Alex Dorward ’11 was named a recipient of Ottawa’s 2019 Forty under 40 Award, a joint initiative of the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade recognizing accomplished and rising business leaders in the National Capital Region. He is the chief operating officer of Simple

Story and the youngest of this year’s Forty Under 40 cohort. Michelle (Parent) MacIntyre ‘11 is the 2019 recipient of the Engineers Nova Scotia Young Engineer Award, awarded to an engineer who has made significant contributions to the profession, his/her community, and demonstrates great promise as a professional engineer. As a structural engineer, Michelle has worked on various unique and complex projects. She also volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross, Girl Guides Canada, and Techsploration. She chaired the Engineers Nova Scotia Young Professionals Committee from 2016-18, she frequently volunteers with Women in Engineering and sits on the Future Leaders Committee of Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia. She also plays flute with the Halifax Music Coop. Katelyn (Katie) Greenway ’13 has been appointed co-ordinator, Hockey Development at Hockey Canada. She has enjoyed a successful playing and coaching career, and had been coaching at the Okanagan Hockey Group in Penticton, BC when chosen for this new role and has now re-established herself in Calgary. Rob Haswell ’18 graduated from the University of Edinburgh on Nov. 25, 2019 with an MSc in international relations. Ricardo Rodriguez ’19 writes: Just wanted to say that this Friday (September 6), I completed my first week at a new position. I was able to get on at Nova Scotia Power as web content coordinator. One of my professors even reached out and sent me a message through LinkedIn (Dr. Denton Anthony). I’m so happy being in Halifax where there are X-Rings all around the city!

Carley Bekkers ’17, daughter of Jon Bekkers ’88 and Susan Bekkers ’89, married Mathieu Bilodeau on July 13, 2019 at The Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. Carley is presently in her third year of medicine at Dalhousie University.

Christine (Strongman) ’11 and David MacDonald ’11 were married at the Wynn in Las Vegas on September 12, 2018.

Nicole Deleskie ’09 and Tyler MacCuspic were married August 30, 2019, with a number of StFX alumni (and future alumni) in attendance. L-r: Lisa Siller, Judy Briand, Jim Siller, Brad Morrison, Kate Morrison ‘09, Maddy Morrison, Adrienne Hadley ‘09, Kaitlyn Mesics, Ray Deleskie (bride’s father), Donald MacCuspic, Nick Renou, Tyler MacCuspic, Nicole Deleskie ’09, Brianna Renou, John MacKinnon, Brittany MacNeil, Ryan Laurendeau, Jenna Laurendeau, Andrew Turple, Matt Gregor, Gary Mesics.

Jeff Dee ‘93 and Amy MacDonald married on July 13, 2019 at their home in Antigonish StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Having fun at homecoming is Amy Sheppard, Shanelle Clowe and Kate Stephenson, all from the Class of 2014.

Josée Van den Hoogen ’14 and Anthony Aleong ’14 were married at StFX Chapel on June 29, 2019.

Cohen Fraser (son of Development Officer Cathy (Jones) Fraser `94) with Fr. Stanley MacDonald `54

L-r: Patrick Grannan ’88, Ann Grannan ’89, Andrew Lively ’89 and Annie Tselikis. Andrew and Annie were married on June 29, 2019 at the Inn on Peaks Island off the coast of Portland, Maine.

Nicole Moore ’10 married George Johnson on September 14, 2019 in Whistler, BC. Pictured, in front, are X grads (l-r) Aaron D’Souza ’10, Dan Enman ’10, Patrick Bruton ’07, groom George Johnson, Nicole Moore ’10 and Sara Enman ’16.

L-r, retired StFX human nutrition faculty Dr. Laurie Wadsworth, Heather-Ann Burrell ’18 and Fran Haley ’65 received major awards at the Dietitians of Canada conference held in Ottawa June 6-8, 2019.

Emily Hogan ’18, Matt LeMoine ’13, and Rachel Dickey ’19 at Camp Echo Lake in New York State where they work. Emily is a group leader, Matt is a head counsellor, and Rachel is head of media. They say their campers love checking out their rings and think it’s super cool they all went to the same university.

Paul Fraser ’82, his son Kyle Fraser ’15 ’17 and Bonnie Jean Fraser ’15 at the Tower Bridge in London, England.

Three StFX graduates met at the Fraser Recovery Program in Quebec City recently and discovered that they were all in the same profession, namely addiction recovery. It was an exciting day for them to meet like that. Pictured in the photo are: Hugh Fraser ’64, Fred Cribb ’60, Murray Kelly ’70.

On December 4, 2019, we had our first ever gathering of StFX alumni in Woodstock, NB. From bottom Alie Ross ’08, Roseanne Goodine ’78, Laura Brennan `05, Andrea Anderson ’03, Catherine Brennan ’10, Kathryn Grant ’18, Colin Craig ’75, Meaghan Gordeau ’10, Natalie Goodine ’14, Courtenay Brennan ’04, John Thompson ’70, Susan Brennan ’08.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

X-Rings bond international travelers by chance: One row apart at the Ed Sheeran concert in Iceland, these alumni spotted each other’s X-Rings. Carly and Karen were just beginning their time in Iceland and Sam was wrapping up her trip. They swapped travel tips and stories about their time at StFX. L-r: Carly MacCuspic ’13, Sam Zanini ’11, ’18 and Karen Doyle ’00.

This group of ladies, all from the Class of 1980 or 1981, reunited in July for a weekend of primarily boating on Halifax Harbour. Back row (l-r): Sheila Martel, Charlene (Ritchie) MacNeil, Margie (Coleman) Davis, and Cathy Campbell. Middle row: Peggy (Wall) Cork, Uriel (Hannon) MacGillivary, and Linda (Charlton) Lund. Front row (lying down): Linda Lou Goodyear.

StFX AlumniNews

Engagement of Amy Pingitore ’14 and Josh Day ’14. They met at StFX and got engaged Dec 24th, 2018. The wedding will be July 11, 2020 in Ottawa, ON.

MANAGING EDITORS Shanna Hopkins ’01 Email: shopkins@stfx.ca Kyler Bell Email: kbell@stfx.ca

Bridget Burgess ‘16 and Brett Ferrari `17 engagement

ASSISTANT EDITOR Shelley Cameron-McCarron Email: sacamero@stfx.ca WRITER Shelley Cameron-McCarron DESIGN & PRODUCTION Andrew Conde Email: aconde@stfx.ca

Allie Kinney ’14 and Christian Beckett ’14 Married on August 31, 2019

For the past two years, the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) executive has been filled by StFX alumni, who have been working hard on behalf of the 850 teachers of the NWTTA. Pictured, l-r, are Todd Sturgeon ’93, secretary/ treasurer, Gwen Young ’92, member at large, Fraser Oliver ’82, president, and Matthew Miller ’17, vice-president.

NEWS EXCHANGE EDITOR Glenda Bond Email: gbond@stfx.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Glenda Bond Phone: (902) 867-2186 Fax: (902) 867-3659 Email: gbond@stfx.ca DEADLINES

First year health sciences student Aliyah Fraser was on her way to class when she recognized the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney ’59 by the portraits on the walls in Mulroney Hall. She introduced herself and they had their photo taken together. This was the day before the official opening of the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and Mulroney Hall. Aliyah immediately phoned her grandfather, Clyde Fraser ’68 ’75. Within minutes this special photo was relayed to her grandparents Rose and Clyde in New Glasgow, NS. Aliyah’s mother is Meghan Fraser ’05, and her uncle is Brock Fraser ’10 ’13. Aliyah is also a rookie on this year’s X-Women basketball team. She says when she indicated she was from New Glasgow, Mr. Mulroney told Aliyah about having served Central Nova as an MP.

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 © 2015 by St. Francis Xavier University. Subscriptions to AlumniNews are available to the public for $21 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. 1993, 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.

The Northern California alumni chapter held its annual StFX Day gathering on December 10, 2019, attending a Warriors game at the new Chase Center in San Francisco. The chapter had record attendance, and it was a great night.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

â&#x20AC;&#x153;StFX is where it all started for me. Along with an excellent education, StFX is where I learned how to be a leader, understanding the importance of service and giving back to communities.â&#x20AC;? The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney 18th Prime Minister of Canada StFX University, Class of 1959

LEADERSHIP MATTERS. NOW, MORE THAN EVER.

The world is calling for talented, principled leaders and change-makers. We can help you answer that call. Our Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Governance and the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government are equipping the next generation of political, business, and community leaders. And with over 200 annual scholarships and bursaries to support students, there has never been a better time or opportunity to prepare for leadership roles. StFX.ca/PGOV

The state-of-the-art Mulroney Hall opened in September 2019.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

DO YOU KNOW AN OUTSTANDING

XAVERIAN? Classics for Classics

The StFX Alumni Association asks you to think about the outstanding StFX grads and friends of the university in your life. Each year, we recognize the accomplishments and contributions of very special members of the StFX family through the Alumni Awards of Excellence and the StFX Hall of Honour at Homecoming. But deserving candidates cannot be considered for these honours without nominations. That’s where we need your help.

Your invitation to return to the classroom, without examinations!

For more information and nomination information, go to www.stfx.ca/alumni. (Click on Alumni Associatio n Box)

12th Annual

Back by Popular Demand: 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 Plato: Five Dialogues – Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. 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! (tuition deposit is refunded to alumni after course completion).

Residence? On campus accommodations are available. Single: $86 plus tax per night. Double: $134 plus tax per night. Date? July 6-10, 2020. The first class meets at 9:30 am on Monday, July 6, 2020.

The Hall of Honour recognizes alumni whose lives, achievements and contributions reflect the StFX tradition of helping others. The Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievements in the following categories: Distinguished Alumnus/A Young Alumnus/A Friend Of StFX (non alumni) Xaverian Spirit Award

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: gbond@stfx.ca, 902-867-2186

More Information? Glenda Bond, 902-867-2186, gbond@stfx.ca

FRAME IT IN

STYLE!

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS APRIL 30, 2020.

MASTER OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AT StFX

StFX DEGREE & PHOTO FRAMES

For a detailed view of the frames or to order online, visit www.stfx.ca/frames or contact the Alumni Affairs Office at 902-867-2186 | alumni@stfx.ca

A Self-directed, Practice-based, Part-time, Distance Learning Program Do you work with adults? Are you interested in more effective learning as an approach to development and change? Do you want a program that is flexible and affordable? This program is designed for busy professionals whose work involves motivating and helping adults learn in any context or setting. We are Canada’s first part-time, self-directed, Master of Adult Education program delivered through distance education. The StFX Master of Adult Education program offers individualized, hands-on learning opportunities for professionals. Students can design an academic program tailored to their needs and interests at work or in the community. Our program is open to those having an undergraduate degree in any discipline and two years experience working with adults. For more information contact: Department of Adult Education Email: aesecret@stfx.ca Telephone: 902.867.3952 /1-(866)-203-1086 www. stfx.ca/masterofadulted

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Shopping for premier X-gear just got easier!

shop.stfx.ca

X-GEAR ONLINE STORE OPEN NOW Alumni, family, students and friends can now purchase quality university merchandise online from the StFX Store.

Children of StFX Special Events Coordinator, Janine Linthorne and husband Walter Linthorne, Landry (2), Brayden (12) and Kynzie (8)

shop.stfx.ca 46

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

WHERE ARE YOU?

ow important is it to keep in touch with your alma mater? Plenty! At StFX, there’s so much going on – from alumni road trips to student send-offs each summer in cities and towns across the country and beyond. If we don’t have your current contacts, we’re not able to send out event notices, alumni mailouts, or the AlumniNews magazine, mailed free of charge three times a year to StFX alumni and friends. If you’re plugged into the StFX network, you can stay in touch with friends, find mentors, visit the Alumni website, and keep up-to-date with all the details of Homecoming, and chapter events in your area. We’d like to reconnect with some of those with whom we’ve lost touch. If you have a current contact or information on any of the following alumni, listed by decade, please contact:

Records Researcher, St. Francis Xavier University 1-888-739-0031 • records @stfx.ca A Isabel Pope ’96 Aaron Alexander MacIsaac ’96 Abraham Defores ’99 Adele Marie Pellerin ’97 Adelle Janet Crawley ’97 Adrien Herve Helfenbein ’96 Agnes Baxter ’93 Andrejka Lokar ’96 Angel Meridith MacKenzie ’98 Catherine Rosalie Chisholm ’91 Cathy Jean Biggar ’99 Charles C MacIntyre ’91 Charles Catto ’98 Heather Rebecca Leblanc ’91 Hin Ling Chu ’96 Hollie Lynn Quick ’99 Hollie Mae Dawson ’99 J Peter Smith ’98 Jacqueline B Faber ’99 Jennifer Wagg ’98 Jessica Louise Mifflen ’99 Joann Marie Osbourne ’94 Joanna Dale Bruce ’98 Joanna Ruth Garvey ’96 Joseph Michael Gillis ’95 Judith Norman ’99 Judy Marie Dobuck-McNeil ’96 Julia Catherine Brazill ’91 Julie Corine Paquin ’99 Julie-Anne Nihmey ’99 Mark England ’92 Melanie Joyce Gammon ’92 Paul Richard Standing ’92 Paul Shannon Worth ’93 Paul Sidney Farrell ’91 Pauline Elavine Leonard ’92 Pauline Jean Pye ’92 Raymond Barkhouse ’97 Raymond Kai Man Cheng ’96 Rebecca Mary MacEachern ’97

Robert Andrew Geddes ’99 Robert Asheleigh Colborne ’95 Robert Borden Post ’92 Robert Brian Jones ’98 Sandra Lynn Hughes ’93 Sheila A McDonald ’92 Sheila Ann MacKinnon ’99 Sheila Davis ’99 Sheila Margaret MacDougall ’93 Sheilah MacKinnon-Drover ’92 Sheldon L Plant ’99 Stacy Lynn MacMillan ’93 Stan Richard MacLellan ’92 Stephanie Ann Devine ’98 Stephanie Ann Mikes ’94 Stephanie Anne Bullock ’98 Susie Paula Pacheco-Doppelreiter ’98 Tania Anne Doucet ’97 Tanya G Smith ’96 Theresa Cherwonka ’91 Theresa Gaudett ’99 Timothy Troy Seymour ’99 Tina Marie Anne McClenaghan ’97 Tina Marie Melanson-Brewster ’94 Tom Buckley ’91 Tracey Alexandria MacDonald ’94 Tracey Lynn Banfield Hillier ’90 Tracey Lynn MacDonald ’97 Tracey Scott Devereaux ’95 Tracy Lyn Carmichael ’92 Tsz Ping Regina Ho ’91 Twila Dawn Neely ’98 Valerie Lynn Guptill ’99 Vanessa Madonna Landry ’99 Victoria Ellen Shaw ’92 Wade Dean Collier ’95 Wai Kwong Leung ’93 William James Fitzgerald ’95 Zandra Dahne Harding-Thalmann ’91 Zuchang Pei ’93

DECEASED Florence F. (MacDougall) Dundon ’44 Rev Frederick A. Morley ’44 Edmund Patrick Boyd ’45 Carmel (Hartigan) Kristal ’47 Charles Edward Montgomery ’47 Lorraine (Cantin) Montgomery ’47 Alexander Philip Beaton ’48 Bernard James Granville ’48 James H. Reid ’48 Joseph Edward “Burton” Guidry ’49 Michael A. Laffin ’49 Bernard Edward Britten ’50 Margaret Alexina MacSween ’50 Geno Victor Scattolon ’51 Lexena Margaret Campbell ’52 Mary Teresa (Doyle) Goodwin ’52 John Angus MacNeil ’53 John Philip Martin ’54 Patrick Gerald Flanagan ’55 John Marcinov ’55 Michael John “Jack” McGrath ’55 John Vernon Proctor ’55 ’57 Mary Dolores (MacNeil) Daley ’56 John Peter Desroches ’56 Corinne Therese (Wallace) Napier ’56 Donald Aubrey “Don” MacDonald ’57 Antony O’Rourke ’57 Wilfred “Roy” Hines ’58 Charles Murchland ’58 Daniel Nicholson ’59 Joseph Philip Shaheen ’59 Edward Joseph MacDonald ’60 Ronald Edward Brasset ’61 Gerald Richard Brown ’61 Duncan R. MacEachern ’61 Donald Bert MacKenzie ’61 Alice M. (White) Kerwin ’62 Ian Hugh MacDonald ’62 Frank Joseph McNab ’62 Patrick James “Fitz” Fitzpatrick ’63 Earle Scott MacDonald ’63 Robert A. “Bob” Pembroke ’63

John James “Jim” Morrison ’64 Margaret Ellen Soy ’64 Earle Oliver Tubrett ’64 Robert Kenneth Hutton ’65 Robert Simon “Bob” McDonaugh ’65 Kathleen Regis “Kal” Ryan ’66 Glenn Henry Sexton ’66 ’67 Roderick Joseph MacDonald ’67 ’68 Terrence Robert “Terry” Dolan ’69 James Patrick Reddy ’69 Robin Bruce Campbell ’70 Wallace Harry MacLean ’70 Dolores (Harrietha) Casey ’71 Daniel Francis Glasgow ’71 William Gerald Long ’71 William Joseph “Bill” DeLeskie ’72 Francis A. “Rick” MacKinnon ’72 ’73 John Hugh MacSween ’72 Michael David Beaton ’73 ’75 Gerard Sydney Morrow ’74 Rose Marie Karnes ’75 Philip Francis O’Neill ’76 Thomas Patrick MacDonald ’78 Daniel R. Nee ’78 Elaine Doreen (Arenburg) Klaver ’79 Terrance Henry Millis ’80 Sharon Jan ’85, Former Faculty Shirley Amelia (Parker) Kraglund ’82 Cynthia Lynn “Cyndy” (Sweet) Doucet ’85 Arlene Michele (Wilson) Smerdon ’85 Sharon Jan ’85 (former faculty) Janet Anne Campbell ’87 Joseph Alexander “Joe” Thompson (`63) ’89 Susan “Michelle” Chisholm ’94 ’00 faculty Jessica Aimee (Joe) Smith ’97 Jody Alexander Mattie ’00 Bonnie Jean (MacIsaac) Hale ’09 Nicholas DeWayne Falconer ’18 Charles “Skip” Beckwith, former faculty Sr. Marie Gillen, former faculty Barbara Nora (Tramble) Kennedy, former staff

Error correction: Please note that the death of Alyre Chiasson ’78 that was reported in the June 2019 issue of the Alumni News was incorrect. Thankfully, Alyre Chiasson is alive and well! We apologize for this error.

OCT. 2-4, 2020

Eileen Alma, Coady Director of Women and Indigenous Programming, Elder Kerry Prosper, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper on campus, and StFX President Dr. Kevin Wamsley chat at 60th anniversary celebrations for the Coady Institute.

COADY INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS OF OVER $1 MILLION A strong history and a bright future. That was the sentiment at a celebration of the Coady Institute’s 60th anniversary, held December 2, 2019 – exactly 60 years to the day from the institute’s opening. Special guests and community members gathered for a reception, where they reminisced about the institute’s global legacy of sustainable, communitycentered growth and development, sharing stories from the past and hopes for its future. Their hopes are high – and for good reason. During the ceremony, executive director Gord Cunningham announced over $1 million in funding from four groups to support and strengthen programs. The funding includes $477,000 over four years for Coady’s work with the Supporting Transition, Retention and Training for Girls (START4GIRLS) program in Zimbabwe. Lead by CARE Canada, and funded through Global Affairs Canada, the project will work with girls, adolescent women, and their communities to promote vocational skills training. It will also place a special emphasis on married girls and teenage mothers who have dropped out of school. Further funding of $125,000 USD from the Ford Foundation will support Coady’s work with partner group The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India. The three-year project will design participatory tools to measure how and where economic vulnerability affects women and their ability to participate in formal and informal employment. Finally, a $300,000 contribution from the Comart Foundation will strengthen Coady’s ability to work alongside Indigenous peoples and African Nova Scotians, here in Nova Scotia. The funds will be matched by the Jeannine Deveau Educational Equity Endowment, for a total investment of $600,000. The diversity of funding announcements reflects Coady’s commitment to work closely with partner groups around the globe, and increasingly, closer to home here in Canada. Among the local programs celebrated at the event was the Centre for Employment Innovation (CEI), an initiative of the Coady and StFX’s Extension Department. Alongside partners within the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education, CEI has worked with more than 100 people from underrepresented groups, helping them gain access to meaningful employment as well as training and professional development opportunities. It was also noted that Coady’s Global Change Leader program, one of almost two dozen programs to be offered in 2020, recently received over 1,900 applications for just 20 spots. It’s a figure the Coady Institute says supports the need for such programming and affirms the institute’s positive reputation around the world. StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

FROM UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT l MURRAY KYTE ’87, VICE-PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENT

MUCH PRIDE IN THE XAVERIAN FAMILY Allow me to share a few personal highlights from the fall semester. Early in the semester, over 180 alumni answered the urgent call to help our Bahamian students who suffered devasting losses back home from Hurricane Dorian. In just days, alumni helped contribute over $45,000 to the Emergency Relief Fund, which has provided food, shelter and other emergency supports for our students in critical need. Thank you for the amazing support; I was proud to be a member of the Xaverian family. Here is what one student wrote when told of your generosity: “My time here this term has been very hard thus far and this money will ease my mind off what happened back home a bit. My family was pleased, grateful and excited to hear this great news and they thank you as well for helping us during these crucial times. Ultimately, I just wanted to say God bless everyone who donated and played a part in the bursary selection as well as creating the program. You really are changing lives! Thank you all!”

Earlier in this edition of AlumniNews you would have read that the university footprint has been forever transformed, exponentially, and all for the better, with the construction of Mulroney Hall and restoration of Nicholson Tower. There are so many benefits emanating from this project, most importantly are the addition of superior teaching and learning spaces for our students and faculty and the funding available in additional scholarships and bursaries. Without the leadership, drive and commitment from Prime Minister Mulroney ’59 and his family, along with help from the Hon. Frank McKenna ’70, in securing the necessary financial commitments from donors, absolutely none of it would have taken place! While Mulroney Hall could have been built anywhere in the country, and indeed many other universities had hoped to be the host institution, Mr. Mulroney chose the place close to his heart—StFX. We are forever grateful to these Xaverians and to those who supported the project, and will

Murray Kyte ’87

continue to support in the coming years. Thank you from all of us. My final comments pertain to the X-Ring ceremony, which again, was outstanding. With the Keating Centre full of students, thousands of parents and family in the conference centre rooms and on Coach K Court, all witnessing the ceremony unfold, listening to heartfelt speeches, and then watching over 900 students receive their rings, one could not help feel great pride, joy and happiness. It is amazing how much this day has grown since the early 1980s when it began with a Mass in the chapel and ceremony in the MacKay Room. Many, many parents commented it was an incredible ceremony, the best they’ve experienced and like nothing they’ve witnessed before at any other university. I jokingly said to many, “Seriously, we are not a cult, just a very close community!” which generated lots of laughs, but one nonalumni parent, overwhelmed with emotion, stopped me and said, “Murray, I don’t care what you call it, even if it was a cult, I just want to be a part of it—my son’s four years has been amazing!” Without question, it was an exceptional day, bringing much pride to our family of Xaverians. Hail & Health,

Murray Kyte ’87 (centre), StFX Vice-President Advancement, celebrates StFX Day with his nieces, twins Abi Kyte (left) and Emma Kyte, who both received their X-Rings during the ceremony held Dec. 3, 2019.

StFX ALUMNINEWS l DECEMBER 2019

Murray E. Kyte ’87, M.Ed, LL.B, B.B.A Vice-President, Advancement X

L-r, Avery Malpass and Ambrosia Caplice ’87

“I had never thought about going out-of-province for my post-secondary education. But after hearing Ambrosia Caplice ’87 talk about StFX’s beautiful campus and its special social and academic atmosphere I knew I had to visit. As soon as I stepped onto the StFX campus I knew exactly what Ambrosia was talking about.” Those are the words of fourth-year honours biology student Avery Malpass of Unionville, ON, who is also completing a concentration in health sciences. She first learned of StFX during summers at her family cottage, that neighbored that of Ambrosia ’87 and John ’87 Caplice and their daughters, Sarah, Erin ’19 and Mary ’22. The Caplices would speak of StFX as a special place that looks out for the success and welfare of its students. When it came time for university, Avery toured schools throughout Ontario and the Maritimes and came back to StFX: “I prioritized small class sizes that would allow me to succeed academically, and an inclusive and welcoming environment. I knew StFX would be the best choice to fulfil these priorities.” Four years later, she wouldn’t change a thing. “The opportunities that I’ve had have helped me grow in many ways as a person and as a leader,” she says. “The small class sizes and interest of professors in my success have provided me with a great academic environment. StFX surpassed my expectations in all respects. Coming into my final year, I look forward to communicating my experiences to potential future students and confirming that it is the most unique and amazing place to complete your undergrad. Just like Ambrosia did with me.”

Share your experience with a prospective student and connect with our Recruitment Team.

Admissions & Recruitment Toll-free: 1-877-867-StFX (7839) • email: admit@stfx.ca • stfx.ca

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Get a quote and see how much you could save ! Call 1-888-589-5656 or go to tdinsurance.com/stfxalumni The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. in Québec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, 12th Floor, Montréal, Québec H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, our car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. Wide Horizons Solution® travel insurance is administered by RSA Travel Insurance Inc. and is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. Medical and claims assistance, claims payment and administrative services are provided by the administrator described in the insurance policies. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.