Making Waves: SMU alumni building careers with Halifax Tides FC

Katelyn Power BComm’23 MBA’25, Julie Naugler BA’20 MBA’23 and MBA student Ben Broadbent are working with the Halifax Tides FC, Halifax’s professional women’s soccer team

Walking through the office of the Halifax Tides FC on any given day, you might be surprised at just how many familiar faces you see. Saint Mary’s graduates are everywhere, from the field to the office, helping to drive the growth of professional women's soccer and the sport business ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. What seems like a coincidence at first glance is much more than that: it’s a testament to the sport and business education programs connecting SMU grads to the growing world of professional sports.     

Since launching in 2024 as a founding club of the Northern Super League, Halifax Tides FC has created new opportunities for athletes, business professionals and students looking to build careers in sport.

Julie Naugler BA’20 MBA’23, Katelyn Power BComm’23 MBA’25, and current MBA student Ben Broadbent tell us all about their journey from SMU to the Tides—and how their time on campus prepared them for the working world of sport.

Julie Naugler

Senior Sales Lead

When Julie Naugler decided to add a Certificate in Health, Wellness and Sport in Society (HWSS) onto her BA in Anthropology, she didn’t anticipate how useful it would be in her day-to-day life post-graduation. As a varsity athlete and flyhalf with the SMU Women’s Rugby team, Julie was drawn to the HWSS certificate because it piqued her interest, and as a student-athlete, that passion for sports was just as prevalent in the classroom as it was on the field.

“I think sport is a really unique industry. You can do marketing, but marketing in sport is different. The same goes for sales and partnership management. There are all kinds of sales roles, but applying those skills in the sport industry is unique. There aren't many courses that directly prepare you for that environment, so having the opportunity to study it while in school is a huge asset.” - Julie Naugler

“I got more directly involved in sport coursework in my undergrad days. The relevance to my future career wasn’t clear at the time, but I took a course on the football family of sports—so soccer, rugby, American football, all those sports, because it interested me and it was relevant to the HWSS program. Now, I use elements of that course more in my day-to-day than I ever would have thought.”

Getting even more involved with sports academic opportunities at SMU, Julie took a position as a Marketing and Promotions specialist with the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport Business and Health in 2023—while completing her MBA at the Sobey School of Business—and started working in the professional sports industry right after graduation.

“When the sales opportunity at the Tides opened up, I immediately gave it a shot and was so glad I did. The opportunity to work within a women-led organization helping launch professional women's soccer in Atlantic Canada was incredibly exciting. I joined the club during the lead-up to our inaugural season in 2025, which gave me the opportunity to help build something completely new from the ground up.”

With her HWSS certificate and MBA, Julie’s creativity, sales and sport-specific knowledge has prepped her well for her role with the Tides—and the sports industry’s eagerness for this combination of skills helped spark SMU’s creation of the Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Business last year.

Katelyn Power

Stadium Operations Lead

Like Julie, Katelyn Power is “SMU through-and-through,” beginning her journey with a BComm in Management and a minor in Sociology while playing basketball with the SMU Huskies. “I’m jealous that the BComm in Sports Business started after I graduated,” she says, noting the opportunities available in the new program. A Sobey MBA Scholarship recipient, Katelyn’s interest in sport extended beyond her time on the court, and she made her athletics experience a key focus in her graduate work at the Sobey School of Business.

“I think that if you’re an athlete, using the skills you’ve learned during your time in athletics is so important. The leadership, teamwork, resilience, and ability to remain calm under pressure that you develop as an athlete are all highly transferable skills in the sports business world.” - Katelyn Power

“I did a presentation during my MBA on the parallels between business and sports. It’s striking how many there are. The skills that you use on the court are the same skills you use in communicating in the office. The time management, the dedication, the working towards a common goal – my experience as an athlete translated to the office almost exactly.”

During her six years with the Huskies basketball program, Katelyn was part of the three-time AUS championship-winning team, an experience she credits with preparing her for the fast-paced world of professional sport operations.

At the Tides, she “oversees match-day staffing, including ushers, ticket scanners, and event operations crews”, coordinating match-day operations, venue branding, sponsor activations and stadium readiness in the weeks leading up to a game. It’s not exactly slow between games, though, with time between matches dedicated to planning, evaluating, and continuously improving future experiences, a pattern she established with her team during her athletic career with SMU.

Ben Broadbent

Business Development Coordinator    

“There aren't many undergraduate sport business programs in Canada. Having more sport-specific education options, especially on the East Coast, is a great opportunity for students to get their foot in the door, especially students from New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.”

Ben Broadbent was a varsity athlete at his undergraduate institution, and after graduating with a BA Honours in French Studies and a minor in History, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in sport. He chose the MBA program at SMU to get him there.

The flexibility of the MBA builds on classroom learning to give students a real feel for the workforce, and for a sports business career, there’s nothing that compares to learning on the job. His business education, along with his arts background, gives him a practical toolkit for the sports business world, providing a curriculum that “has been a huge asset” for Ben as the mix of coursework and experiential learning has set him up for success with the Tides.

“This career path is incredibly dynamic. In the lead-up to a match, it's logistics, planning and negotiation. On game day, it's problem-solving, agile management and sometimes crisis management. You're as proactive as you can be and then the reaction starts.”

Having student work experience with a professional sports organization like Halifax Tides FC gives students like Ben a competitive edge once they hit the workforce full time, helping them stand out in the race for the next generation of sports professionals.

Sports Programs at SMU

For incoming students who are looking to launch a sports career right here from the Maritimes, Halifax is proving to be a hub for up-and-coming sports professionals of all sorts. With organizations like Halifax Tides FC helping establish and grow professional women's soccer in Atlantic Canada, and demand for a workforce capable of evolving that presence, the era of sport business success in the city is just beginning.

Behind every match day experience are dedicated professionals helping grow the game both on and off the pitch—and many of them got their start right here at Saint Mary's.    

Entrepreneurship opens new pathways for international students through SEE Bootcamp

Students from the SEE Bootcamp at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

The Summer Entrepreneurial Experience (SEE) Bootcamp gave international student entrepreneurs from across Nova Scotia just five weeks to take an idea from concept to a business ready for the spotlight.

From June 16 to July 17, participants from post-secondary institutions including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), Acadia University and Mount Saint Vincent University came together for an intensive summer accelerator focused on building businesses with long-term impact.

Delivered by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre in partnership with EduNova’s Study and Stay™ initiative and supported by the TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative, the program combined hands-on workshops, mentorship, customer discovery, financial planning and one-on-one pitch coaching. Along the way, participants explored how entrepreneurship can become a pathway to building both a successful business and a future in Nova Scotia.

One of the defining moments of the program came just two days before the final competition, when every team had to submit a locked version of their pitch deck. The deadline challenged participants to make difficult decisions, refine their storytelling, and prepare for a pitching environment where every detail mattered.

The program concluded in a live pitch competition on July 17, where founders presented their validated business ideas to a panel of expert judges for cash prizes and the opportunity to continue developing their ventures through the Centre’s fall Ignition Program. In addition to the pitch awards, the winning founders will each receive five one-on-one business advising sessions with Irene Saliendra of Digital Flow Consulting, generously provided by program partner EduNova to support the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

Riya Ralli, a recent grad from Dalhousie, earned first place and a $2,000 prize for Belong. Second place went to recent SMU grad Vaishali Sachdeva BA’26 (Blyss), Narimene Djamai from SMU (FreshSense) and Yvanna Tchatchoua from MSVU (AdaptWell), while Augustina Tucker from SMU (Maison Lumiere) and Emmanuel Mbachu from NSCC (Profine) received third-place awards.

For Riya Ralli, the experience provided a roadmap for turning an idea into action.

"I can't recommend the Summer Entrepreneurship Experience Bootcamp enough. In just eight sessions, it covered the full arc of starting a business. It all builds toward a pitch competition with real funding and mentorship on the line."

Narimene Djamai said the program reshaped how she approaches entrepreneurship.

"It doesn't hand you a roadmap; it teaches you how to navigate uncertainty. More than anything, it reminded me that entrepreneurship isn't reserved for people who already have all the answers; it's for people who are willing to keep learning."

By the end of the five weeks, participants had gained far more than just pitch decks. They left with validated business ideas, practical entrepreneurial skills, expanded professional networks and the confidence to continue building ventures that contribute to Nova Scotia's growing innovation ecosystem.

Interested in learning more about the SEE program or what other programs the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre has to offer? Check out the website.

Growth Pod celebrates a year of connecting student founders with industry experts

Starting a business is exciting, but knowing what steps to take next can be challenging. For student entrepreneurs, having access to the right guidance at the right time can make all the difference. 

That’s where the Growth Pod Advisor Team comes in. 

Launched in August 2025 by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University, the Growth Pod is a free one-on-one virtual mentoring program designed to connect student founders with experienced industry professionals who can help them navigate the challenges of building a venture. 

Through personalized one-hour advising sessions, entrepreneurs are matched with advisors based on their specific needs, whether they are looking for support with sales strategy, marketing, accounting, product development, technology or funding. 

During its first year as a pilot program, the Growth Pod quickly demonstrated the demand for accessible, practical mentorship. The program supported more than 30 Saint Mary’s student entrepreneurs and facilitated over 90 advisor-entrepreneur meetings, creating meaningful connections between emerging founders and professionals who have real-world experience building businesses. 

The Growth Pod Advisor Team now includes 10 experienced advisors with expertise spanning seven key areas. By connecting students directly with industry practitioners, the program helps bridge the gap between having an idea and developing a sustainable business. Advisors include Nithin Eapen, Teo Kim, Nabila Mahabub, Manish Shinde, Kent Murphy, Pranay Malusare, Jonas Slaunwhite BComm’12, Federico Cetraro and Ghazaleh Afrahi, each bringing unique industry knowledge and experience to support student founders. 

Nabila Mahabub, Marketing and Branding expert, says “One of the best parts of being involved has been meeting so many people with fresh ideas who are looking for a way to take them into the world, and if you're a startup trying to find your footing, I think the Growth Pod is a really great place to be because you have mentors from marketing, finance, operations, and other areas of business to help you move your company to the next stage." 

For master’s student entrepreneur Conrad Scotchburn BComm’26, the support provided through the Growth Pod has helped strengthen his entrepreneurial journey. 

“My experience with the Growth Pod has been really valuable. I’ve genuinely felt more supported throughout the process; it’s made a real difference knowing there are people and resources in my corner. The advisors have also given me great insights and practical advice on improvements I can make across all levels of the business.” 

As the Growth Pod continues to grow, the program remains focused on creating more opportunities for student entrepreneurs to access the knowledge, connections and support they need to move their ideas forward. 

Interested in learning more about the Growth Pod and how you can get involved? Visit the program page to explore available advising opportunities and connect with the resources available to help grow your venture. 

BComm student selected one of 10 Outstanding Leaders in Canada

Simone Boudreau’s accomplishments include founding CycleStrong

Sobey School of Business students are known for their high-performance in awards and competitions across the globe, so when it came time to nominate a student for the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership, there was plenty of competition. In the end, Simone Boudreau stood out for her academic strength and commitment to community.

“Simone brought so many achievements to the table. Her exceptional experience in leadership and her academic performance made her an excellent candidate,” said Dr. Michel Delorme, Dean of the Sobey School. “The Sobey School of Business’ reputation led to our school being selected to nominate a student; the quality of our students, in turn, builds our reputation even more.”

In May, while her classmates were walking across the convocation stage, Simone was in Toronto as one of just ten students across Canada to receive this prestigious scholarship.

Simone, fifth from right, at the Futures Fund Scholarship Awards Gala in Toronto

“The Futures Fund was an unreal experience, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the memories I created,” said Simone.

Established by Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year®, the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership recognizes business students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership through their academic achievements and extracurricular involvement.

Each year, ten Canadian business schools are selected to participate, with each school nominating a student whose leadership, initiative, and impact distinguish them among their peers.

With a cumulative GPA of over 4.0, Simone will graduate in September with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Economics with a Certificate in Sports Business. She was active in the Commerce Society, Enactus and the Women in Business society, and she served on the Board of Directors for Sail Able Nova Scotia, a learn-to-sail organization for people with disabilities. Most recently, she founded CycleStrong, an initiative focused on helping female athletes better understand injury risk and training through menstrual cycle tracking, with goals to help close the gap in women’s sport science research.

The trip to the Futures Fund event was about more than networking. The candidates engaged with experiential learning and enjoyed access to leaders from companies such as Deloitte, Caldwell, Canadian Tire, Air Canada and more.

“I was able to connect with some of the most inspiring leaders in Canadian business and learn from their experiences through workshops and discussions, and I shared this experience with nine other remarkable students from universities across Canada. We were able to learn from each other throughout the program.

It was an incredible opportunity to expand my perspective, build meaningful connections, and bring new ideas and inspiration back to my career and academics.”

— Simone Boudreau

Simone is currently working as an event coordinator with the Halifax Regional Municipality and plans to continue working in tourism and events. She will graduate this fall and plans to further her education with a master's degree in public policy or applied economics.

Mapping the system: Beyond the waitlist

Jonah Crowther, Katie Brooks, Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter and Luke Pound represented the Sobey School of Business at Map the System in the UK

Sobey MBA Team recognized for mapping Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage

Last week, a team of Sobey MBA students received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award in a competition called Map the System (MTS), held at Oxford University, UK. It was the first time a Saint Mary’s University team had entered the competition. Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter, Luke Pound, Jonah Crowther and Katie Brooks analysed and presented on the systems around Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage.

Founded in 2016, the Map the System competition, held at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, builds a community of practitioners, educators and students around systems thinking, an approach to entrenched and intractable social and environmental problems that examines both mitigating and exacerbating factors. The competition stands apart from most others in that participating teams are not tasked with building solutions and recommendations. Instead, they are evaluated on how well they have mapped and analysed the contributing factors to a problem, their ability to translate data into a compelling story, and their understanding of root causes and potential leverage points for change.

The team received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award for their analysis of the Nova Scotia family physician shortage

In the SMU team’s analysis, some of the factors were immigration trends, rural versus urban realities, career perceptions of family medicine, public expectations, burnout and isolation. During the analysis, retention of doctors and perceptions about the attractiveness of family medicine as a career option appeared as weaker areas in the system.

In addition to traditional research, Anna said, “We got to listen to a lot of different perspectives throughout our entire project, whether they were from different organizations or different levels within the organization, but they all helped reveal something different about the system we were looking into, which we may have overlooked if we didn't reach out to them.”

Systems thinking in MBA

Annika Voltan teaches an MBA course called Sustainable Change Leadership, where she introduces systems thinking as an essential skill for future leaders. This past winter, students in her class participated in the campus-level Map the System competition.

In reflecting on why she feels that systems thinking and systems mapping are so important, she noted: "In today's busy world, we're often evaluated based on efficiency and productivity measures, which leads us to jump into solutions when faced with problems. But the complex challenges we're facing require deeper understanding of contributing factors, power dynamics and interconnections if we're going to be able to shift toward better outcomes. Systems thinking is increasingly being recognized as an essential skill set for navigating the wicked problems of our time."

Camaraderie and support

The team were impressed by the collegial and supportive atmosphere associated with the competition, all the way through. They received advice and encouragement from several Sobey professors, as well as from staff at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Executive and Professional Development. MTS assigned the team three judges. Here in Halifax, they connected with a health researcher named Sam Petrie who competed at MTS in 2020. The others were Ishaw Sharma (Toronto) and Mariana Cardenas Marquez (Montreal). Even the judges were supportive, said Katie: “They were rooting for you to succeed in the questioning. They wanted to give you the opportunity to share more, if you missed anything and really show your understanding.”

Jonah added that after complimenting another team on their presentation, that team commented about the SMU team being all MBA students. Jonah said, “I kind of took a step back and thought, wow, they view almost us as the experts.” While the team may not be experts in healthcare, they were the people in the room who knew the most about the Nova Scotia healthcare system, thanks to their research and analysis.

Coming into the competition, Julia noted they had expected it to be intense and perhaps more rigid. “The camaraderie that we all felt, the gratitude that was in the room for everyone being there was super cool to experience.”

The team is excited to share their report findings at Lead With Purpose Day in November

Looking forward

Looking ahead, the team is excited for another SMU team to participate next year so they can share some of what they learned.

“How do you even articulate to the class that comes in next year? Like, how do you get people to feel like we feel right now about it, because we're so in it,” said Katie.  Anna noted they hadn’t expected the breadth or complexity of some of the issues being mapped.

The passion and storytelling of the finalist teams made a strong impression on Jonah. “I think what I really appreciated was not just learning about the issues happening in those countries, but also just seeing the passion they brought when they were presenting on those topics.”

What happens now with the report? They will be bringing it to the PRME research expo at the Sobey School of Business’ Lead With Purpose Day on November 20. Katie says, “You can do a lot with this. So many people in the community now want to read our report and our findings.”

For the birds: Star student researchers study European starlings

European starlings are banded and studied by biology students on SMU campus

Dr. Colleen Barber and student researchers

Nest boxes can be seen around campus

For 20 years, Dr. Colleen Barber has been using a long-term study on European starlings to teach her students research skills

The Saint Mary’s University campus in Halifax’s south end is the perfect location for an interesting long-term research project on birds—specifically European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which thrive in urban settings. There are more than 40 nest boxes scattered across the campus.

Dr. Colleen Barber has been guiding her biology students in conducting research on these resilient birds for more than 20 years. They have produced theses and published papers on the effects of climate change on this species, its songs, mate choice, parental investment, and the types and abundance of garbage found in its nests.

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European starlings are not native to Nova Scotia but have been here for more than 100 years. They have adapted well to urban living, creating nests from natural and anthropogenic materials, including plastics and other litter.

“We have discovered that European starlings have many reproductive strategies—they have a very dynamic mating system,” says Dr. Barber. 

“Some nestlings belong to both parents who are feeding them (within-pair young), while other nestlings genetically belong only to the mom or dad (extra-pair maternity or paternity), and some nestlings don’t genetically belong to either parent (intraspecific brood parasitism).”

Dr. Barber’s students have used campus nest boxes to research why the starlings use garbage and feathers in their nests. Others have studied why male starlings mimic the calls of blue jays, chickadees, crows and sirens. Student teams have also examined the effects of ectoparasites that live on the birds’ skin and feathers.

Students take their first set of measurements when the nestlings are five days old. They measure the birds’ size and weight and take small blood samples to determine parentage through DNA microsatellite analysis. They return to the nest boxes when the nestlings are 11 days old, taking the same measurements to record growth rate. They also capture the parents to band and measure them and to take a small blood sample.

The research is interesting—this species is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine,” displaying the effects of climate change in its nesting, reproductive strategies and breeding success.

Dr. Barber is a calm, reassuring presence as she instructs students in taking careful measurements, banding the birds’ legs, and recording data. For her, teaching students how to do research is the overarching goal of the project.

“Seeing my students become sure of themselves as researchers—learning to do the research and interpret their results accurately is gratifying as a teacher and a mentor,” says Dr. Barber.

SMU in the news:

From supporting founders to becoming one: David Campbell BComm’24

David Campbell BComm’24

For David, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. In fact, he says he never considered himself a naturally entrepreneurial person. But after spending years surrounded by founders and innovative ideas at Saint Mary's University, his mindset began to change.

Today, David works at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, where he supports student founders and helps create entrepreneurship programming. Outside of work, he's building his own startup, Recordium, alongside co-founders Harpreet Jaggi, an experienced B2B sales professional, and Max Mascini, a Dalhousie University master's student specializing in AI ethics, neuroscience and machine learning.

The team recently received a major boost after being accepted into the AI2Market Launch incubator, earning $10,000 in funding to help bring their business to life.

Recordium was born from a real-world problem. After hearing about the challenges Harpreet faced while attending sales conferences, the team realized that many professionals invest significant time and money into events without having the tools to prepare effectively or capture valuable conversations afterward.

David and Harpreet, Co-Founders of Recordium

"There's no real system for remembering who you spoke to, following up or learning from those interactions," David explains.

That's why the team is developing a comprehensive conference assistant that helps users prepare before events, identify the right people to meet and use AI-powered note-taking and CRM updates throughout the day.

For David, building Recordium has reinforced many of the lessons he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs every day.

Working at the Entrepreneurship Centre taught him the importance of validating a problem before investing time into building a solution. Now, experiencing customer discovery, product pivots and pitching firsthand has also made him a stronger mentor for students.

“I’m now able to help students by using my lived experience,” he says.

David’s previous ventures included a drive-thru wood-fired pizza business

His own entrepreneurial journey has included previous ventures, from a drive-thru wood-fired pizza concept to a woodworking business. While neither succeeded in the long term, each experience taught valuable lessons and helped build confidence to pursue his latest venture.

Looking ahead, the Recordium team is focused on getting the platform into the hands of sales professionals who regularly attend conferences and networking events. With support from AI2Market Launch and fresh funding behind them, they're eager to discover where the product can create the greatest impact.

David's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: talk to people before you build anything.

"The actual problem people are facing starts to emerge quickly when you're having real conversations," he says. "And just start, even if you think the idea is bad or you don't fully believe in yourself yet. What you learn along the way will be well worth it."

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports entrepreneurs like Recordium. 

Sociology grad receives prestigious SSHRC Research Scholarship

Sarah Delorme BA’26

Sarah Delorme, a Sociology Honours graduate from Saint Mary's University, was recently awarded a $27,000 Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS-M) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The scholarship will support her Master of Arts in Sociology at Concordia University beginning in Fall 2026. In addition, Sarah has been awarded a $6,000 Graduate Special Entrance Scholarship from Concordia University.

After completing the first two years of her Bachelor of Arts at Laurentian University in Ontario, Sarah transferred to Saint Mary's University, where she became deeply involved in academic and campus life. She first served as Secretary and later as Co-President of the SMU Sociology Society, helping to organize both small- and large-scale events for students.

Sarah also gained valuable research experience through several projects. She worked as a research assistant and newsletter assistant editor for the GBV-MIG Canada Research Program under the supervision of Dr. Evangelia Tastsoglou, contributing to research on gender-based violence and migration. Her broad interest in sociological issues also led her to work as a research assistant on Dr. Rui Hou's research on digital mental health interventions for Asian immigrant youth and on Dr. Pauline Hoebanx's research exploring misogynistic online movements.

Beyond her academic work, Sarah has contributed to the Saint Mary's community in numerous roles, including as a Sociology Teaching Assistant, Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Research Newsletter, Secretary of the SMUSA Board of Directors, Game Day Ticketing staff with Athletics & Recreation, and Peer Notetaker for the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility.

A consistent Dean's Honour List student, Sarah received a Bursary Award in 2022 and an Academic Excellence Award in 2023 from Laurentian University. At Saint Mary's University, she earned an Academic Achievement Award and several other merit awards. In 2026, she was awarded the Outstanding Graduating Sociology Student Award by the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA).

Inspired by her work with the GBV-MIG project, Sarah completed her Honours thesis on the resilience of migrant and refugee women who have experienced gender-based violence in migration contexts.

Sarah at Convocation in May 2026

Reflecting on the award, Sarah said she is grateful for the opportunities and mentorship she received throughout her time at Saint Mary's.

"Receiving this scholarship is incredibly exciting and affirming. My experiences at Saint Mary's gave me the opportunity to explore a wide range of sociological topics, work alongside inspiring faculty members, and contribute to research that addresses important social issues. Through those experiences, I discovered a passion for research and a desire to better understand how people navigate complex challenges. I'm excited to continue that work at Concordia and build on the foundation I developed at Saint Mary's."

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou, Professor of Sociology cross-appointed in Political Science and Global Development Studies, said Sarah's success reflects both her academic abilities and her commitment to meaningful research.

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou

"Sarah has distinguished herself through her intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and commitment to understanding issues that affect marginalized communities. Whether as a student, research assistant, or campus leader, she has consistently demonstrated thoughtfulness, professionalism, and a desire to make a positive contribution. This SSHRC award is a well-deserved recognition of her achievements and potential as a scholar."

As she prepares to begin her master's studies at Concordia University, Sarah looks forward to continuing her research and contributing to important conversations in sociology. Her achievements reflect a strong commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and meaningful social research.

Students tackle deer challenges at the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon'

Students attended the hackathon at CLARI at Saint Mary’s University

This May, post-secondary students from across Nova Scotia came together for the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon’, an entrepreneurial challenge focused on finding creative, sustainable solutions to the growing issue of urban deer populations damaging community gardens.

Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Centre for Leadership Excellence, City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood, the hackathon challenged students to develop practical, community-ready ideas that could help protect urban growing spaces while balancing environmental considerations. To ensure participants had a strong understanding of the problem, the experience began outside the classroom.

In addition to research and solution development, students were invited to visit the Common Roots Urban Farm Bi-Hi location for a live garden drop-in experience. They had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact deer can have on urban agriculture, speak with those managing the challenge daily and gain valuable context for their projects.

The hands-on visit was followed by an interactive Ask Me Anything session with a Common Roots Urban Farm Manager, who shared insights, answered questions and helped students better understand the realities of maintaining a thriving urban garden in the face of increasing wildlife pressures.

Common Roots Urban Farm BiHi Park
Source: Common Roots

Urban deer seen in Halifax

Over the course of the hackathon, students worked collaboratively to transform their observations and research into innovative solutions. Teams explored a variety of approaches, combining entrepreneurial thinking, sustainability principles and community impact to address a real-world problem.

SMU’s winning team: Elijah Bucci, Malik Abdullahi, Wyn Go, Chloe Staple

After presenting their final pitches, Saint Mary’s University students Malik Abdullahi, Chloe Staple, Wyn Go and Elijah Bucci were awarded first place for their solution.

For winning team member Malik Abdullahi, the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening.

“The Oh Deer Hackathon was an amazing experience because we got to tackle a real issue impacting our local community. Collaborating as a team to pitch a sustainable solution after getting insights from the Common Roots Urban Farm team gave us real insight on how entrepreneurial thinking can solve environmental challenges. Winning first place was definitely a proud moment for all of us!”

A special thank you to the Centre for Leadership Excellence, the City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood for their partnership and support in bringing this hackathon to life and providing students with a valuable real-world learning experience.

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If you are interested in joining opportunities like this in the future, sign up for the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s newsletter to learn more about future opportunities.

First-ever French Innovation Sprint brings students together in Nova Scotia

Students from Université Sainte-Anne participated in the first French language Innovation Sprint

The energy was high and the conversations flowed entirely in French at the first-ever French language Innovation Sprint, a new collaboration between the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Nova Scotia Community College, Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) and Université Sainte-Anne. Held at the Centre de l’entrepreneuriat Louis-E.-Deveau in Church Point, Nova Scotia, the event brought together 20 students for an experience focused on solving real business challenges.

What made this Sprint stand out wasn’t just the competition; it was the sense of inclusion. For many participants, it was a rare opportunity to engage fully in French within Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As André LeBlanc, Manager of the Louis E. Deveau Entrepreneurship Centre, put it, “It is not often that the students get to participate in a French event allowing them to fully feel included in the provincial ecosystem.”

All 20 participants were students from Université Sainte-Anne, with a mix of academic backgrounds—three science students and seventeen commerce students. They were tasked with developing solutions for Wild Rose Farms, a local farm navigating the growing challenges of climate change. The business is seeking ways to remain resilient amid environmental uncertainty by adopting sustainable practices and technologies that support long-term operations and financial performance.

“It was an extremely tough challenge, but the students exceeded all my expectations. Their ideas were impressive and they worked incredibly hard,” said Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farms.

Over the course of the Sprint, students worked in teams to build and pitch their ideas. The level of engagement was high, making it clear that there is a strong demand for more opportunities like this.

By the end of the event, three teams stood out:

1st Place: Délices Muswelemalue, Mike Miteulukusa, Adio Ange Bisse
2nd Place: Prudencia Princesse Mbiadjeu Mbunzwe, Liliane Kasanda
3rd Place: Séverine Makiesekink, Océane Gbaligazakies, Igor Mukwanga

“This experience helped grow my interest in entrepreneurship and pushed my thinking in a new way,” said a member of the first-place team. “It was rewarding to support the business and we even won some money.”

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Pitch perfect

Meet the three unique women who made up the top Stock Pitch team in Canada

Keira Hennigar, Katelyn Abriel, Laura McAleese and coach/faculty advisor Ross Hallett

A team of three Sobey School of Business women are the top stock pitching team in Canada after competing in Virginia, USA, in March.

Laura McAleese graduated from the Sobey School of Business in 2025 with her Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. She “landed at Saint Mary’s after hip-hopping around a bit,” knowing that the Sobey School was where her mother had gotten her accounting degree. She says she toured SMU when she was a little girl and “vividly remembers the Atrium with the plant wall.”  

From her BComm, she applied to the Sobey Master of Business Analytics “on a whim,” although she adds that the future-facing AI-focused curriculum appealed to her.

Laura is an active participant in the Impact Fund program, which deepened her passion for, as she calls it, “the technical aspect of finance.”  Last year, in her first year on the Impact Team, she competed at the Stock Pitch.

Keira Hennigar is a third-year BComm student majoring in finance. She is a member of Saint Mary’s Equestrian Club and the Investment Society. Katelyn Abriel is also a third-year student, majoring in finance and accounting and aiming to get her CPA designation and pursue a career in accounting. Both are current Research Associates with the Sobey School Impact Fund, Keira for real estate investment and Katelyn for consumer staples.

In March, Keira, Katelyn and Laura entered the women-only Bianca Caragliano Stock Pitch Competition.  

So what is a stock pitch competition?

Participants are tasked with choosing the stock that they hope will beat the market over the next year. “After choosing a stock, we basically do equity research on that stock,” says Laura. “We look at the company, we look at its competitors, industries, and then we try to come up with an implied share price for the stock and see whether or not it's mispriced in the actual market. Then, we give a buy or sell recommendation.”

This preparation paid off. The team competed at William & Mary in Williamsburg, against 21 teams from across Canada, the US and beyond. They landed at number four, topping teams from the Ivey Business School, Memorial University, UBC and University of Regina, making them the highest-scoring Canadian team.

First cohort of Sports Business students prepare to launch their careers

Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students to graduate with the Saint Mary’s Certificate in Sports Business

At Saint Mary’s, preparing students to thrive in agile, competitive careers is a top priority for us—and the Sobey School of Business is one of the faculties leading the charge with innovative programming designed for lucrative, high-demand industries.

Working in tandem with the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, the recently unveiled Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Business major was launched last year as part of the Sobey School’s program offerings, with students like Van Bernard coming to SMU specifically for the program. As the only sports business program currently available in Atlantic Canada, we’re committed to developing talent right here at home—giving students the opportunity to build an education that supports their goals.  

The BComm in Sports Business didn’t launch overnight. It started as a Certificate in Sports Business in 2024. It’s still available as a certificate option for students interested in adding it to an existing major, and we’ve heard firsthand from students that it’s a fantastic pairing with other Sobey School programming.

Marketing major Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students set to graduate with the certificate in sports business, and he felt passionate enough about his experience in the program to write a profile of it in the SMU Student Journal.

“I had the option to go out of province for a sports business program, but I wanted to stay in the Maritimes. It aligned perfectly—with the sports business certificate, I was able to get sport-specific education while finishing my degree at Saint Mary’s.”

“The courses required for the certificate—like sports marketing and sports data analytics—have given me extremely relevant experience and allowed me to practice applying my marketing education in sports-specific contexts. ”

— Matthew Lloyd

A longtime fan, Matthew is passionate about every aspect of sports. He played basketball in his youth, and he follows hockey and basketball closely. His dream job would be a marketing role with a team like the Toronto Raptors, and he took full advantage of our sports-related programming, taking that first step toward turning his passion into a lifelong career.  

“Marketing and sports business go hand-in-hand, as sports marketing is a key part of the industry. Between sponsorships, event promotions and broadcast opportunities, having sports-related education under your belt when you graduate gives you a competitive advantage when getting your foot in the door in sports marketing.”  

You don’t have to be planning a career in sports to benefit from taking these courses, Matthew says. Each of the sports business courses—Human Resources in Sports and Sports & Sustainability—give students ample opportunity to apply the learning they do to real-world examples through case studies in the sports industry.

“I feel a lot better entering the job market because of my education at Saint Mary’s than I would otherwise. In addition to the education I received, I’m graduating with work experience. With the co-op program I participated in, I have 12 months of experience across three different organizations, so I have projects I can point to on my resume that give me an advantage in a competitive market.”

Matthew will cross the stage with his cohort of Sobey School of Business graduates on May 27 during Spring Convocation. Soon after, he’ll begin his new role with Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax.

With Sports Business now offered at Saint Mary’s, students who want a clear path to a career in the sports industry are able to set themselves up for success. Whether you’re looking to double major, minor, or add a certificate to your education, Saint Mary’s offers flexible opportunities to prepare students like Matthew for a successful start in their chosen field.