SMU Alumnus Senator Terry Mercer honoured by Senate on His Retirement
Sen. Terry Mercer
SMU alumnus and Honorary Doctorate recipient Senator Terry Mercer BA’71 DCL’13 was honoured by the Senate of Canada on May 5 to acknowledge his retirement.
Several Senators paid tribute to Senator Mercer, including the Honourable Stan Kutcher, who highlighted that Terry attended Saint Mary's University, where he met his wife, Ellen. He was recognized also for his passion and work in the chamber, his service to the people of Nova Scotia and to all Canadians.
During the event, Senator Mercer spoke of his work with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), particularly in supporting university students in their endeavours. He also acknowledged one of his greatest achievements, the Senate Special Committee on the Charitable Sector. In 2012, Canada became the first Country to recognize National Philanthropy Day permanently through a bill sponsored by Senator Terry Mercer.
"Every day, the lives of Canadians from coast to coast to coast are touched by the sector and its volunteers. I would like you to join me in thanking the millions of volunteers who make a difference in their communities," said Senator Mercer.
“On behalf of the entire Saint Mary’s Community, I wish you a happy retirement,” said Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President of Saint Mary's University. “We are proud to include you as one of our 53,000 alumni worldwide, as well as an honorary degree recipient. Thank you for continuing to exemplify the Santamarian spirit through the impact you are making in the community, locally and nationally.”
Saint Mary’s University Celebrates Outstanding Business Success, Commitment to Nova Scotia and Community of Four Alumni with Honorary Degrees
Four outstanding Santamarians will be honoured with honorary degrees at May convocation ceremonies, with recipients reflecting leadership in North American business and significant contributions to Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities.
"In each of these honorary degree recipients, our students can see the dedication, passion and commitment to excellence that leads to success," says President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "All of our recipients came to Saint Mary's University for their studies, and we are thankful for their continued dedication to our university. With great pleasure, we bestow our highest honour on these four accomplished alumni."
Saint Mary's University is proud to recognize the achievements of:
Karen Oldfield BA’82, Q.C., ICD.D
After serving for more than 18 years as President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, Karen was recently named the Interim President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health (NSH). While seconded to Nova Scotia Health, she has also been appointed Deputy Minister of Priorities and Planning for the Government of Nova Scotia, a role fundamental to the strategic priorities of the province. Karen also previously served as Chair of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors.
Roger J. Lewis BA’01
Roger, a member of the Sɨkɨpne'katik First Nation, is currently the Curator of Mi'kmaq Culture and Heritage with the Nova Scotia Museum. For the past two decades, he has been working closely with Mi'kmaw communities to record important ethnographic information and stories. He is regularly invited to advise educators and to speak within the provincial school system about Treaty Rights and Mi'kmaw history.
James “JC” Curleigh BComm’89
JC is Gibson Guitar's President and Chief Executive Officer, where he leads the Gibson senior team of proven executives with broad experience in global brand building, finance and product development. Prior to joining Gibson, JC served as the President of the Levi’s brand at Levi Strauss & Co., and earlier with Keen footwear and Saloman brands. JC is a guitar enthusiast and has been a proud owner of both Gibson and Epiphone guitars over the years, including his latest addition – a Gibson 1960’s J-45 acoustic guitar.
William (Bill) Linton BComm’75
Bill is a corporate director, philanthropist, and investor with over 30 years of business experience. He comes from a family with a strong tradition of business excellence and giving back to their community through a commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy. Bill is a member of the Board of Directors of Empire Company Limited and serves as a director of Deveron UAS Corp. and TMX Group Limited, as well as a number of private companies. Over his career, Bill has held various senior executive-level positions, including Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Rogers Communications Inc.
About Saint Mary’s University
Saint Mary’s University is one of Canada’s top primarily undergraduate universities known for its international collaborations, leadership in entrepreneurship, and research that benefits local and global communities. Our programs in Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and the Sobey School of Business are among Canada’s best and feature professors who are committed to the success of their students. Saint Mary’s provides our more than 6,600 students with a place that fosters possibility, excellent research opportunities, and distinguished graduate and professional programs combined with a caring community. Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s east coast, Saint Mary’s University is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air. The Saint Mary’s University community is committed to a prosperous future for the world—a World without limits.
Honorary Degree Recipient: Karen Oldfield
Karen Oldfield
Karen Oldfield BA’82, Q.C., ICD.D, was named President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health (NSH) on September 1, 2021. This appointment was made by Premier Tim Houston with a mandate to take immediate action to improve health care in Nova Scotia. While seconded to Nova Scotia Health, Karen has also been appointed Deputy Minister of Priorities and Planning for the Government of Nova Scotia, a role fundamental to the long-term strategic priorities of the province.
Previously, Karen served 18 successful years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax Port Authority. During her tenure at the Port Authority, revenues more than tripled, enabling the organization to make significant financial investments in strategic port and transportation infrastructure to improve port competitiveness and the livability of Halifax. Karen has global experience, particularly in trade development and the establishment of new markets, combined with deep expertise in supply chain management and logistics. Karen operates and achieves results in complex, multidisciplinary/stakeholder environments, particularly at the nexus of government and the private sector.
Karen continues to advise companies committed to growth, especially in Atlantic Canada. Companies such as Warehouse Transport Group, a growing transportation and logistics firm with offices in Cambridge, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Vigilant Atlantic, a team of experts providing cost estimates, rapid cost monitoring and overall project delivery throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond, and Scotiaport, a 1600+ acre transportation and logistics park in planning for Truro, Nova Scotia.
Karen is the Past Chair of the Board of Governors of Saint Mary's University. She has served as President of the Canadian Chapter of the International Women's Forum, a global organization of female leaders with a stated mission to develop female executive and board talent further. Karen serves as Lead Director of Acadian Timber (ADN.TO), is Chair of the Nomination, Governance and Executive Compensation Committee and member of the Audit Committee.
Karen lives in Halifax with her husband Darren and their COVID-puppy Charli!
Honorary Degree Recipient: Roger J. Lewis
Roger J. Lewis
Roger J. Lewis BA'01, Sɨkɨpne'katik First Nation, is currently the Curator of Mi'kmaq Culture and Heritage with the Nova Scotia Museum. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and his Master of Arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), specializing in pre-contact Mi'kmaw cultural landscape and resource use. For the past two decades, he has been working closely with Mi'kmaw communities to record important ethnographic information and stories. He is regularly invited to advise educators and to speak within the provincial school system about Treaty Rights and Mi'kmaw history.
Roger currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, where he advises on a number of issues dealing with urban residing Indigenous peoples, cultural property rights, research protocols, and the mentoring of youth. He is a Keptin (Captain) of the Grand Council of Mi'kmaq. He is a part-time instructor at Saint Mary's University, co-teaching a course titled "Indigenous Peoples of Canada" with Dr. Trudy Sable from 2014 to 2022.
An expert on Mi'kmaq culture and heritage, Roger has contributed to numerous publications, including Mi'kmakik Teloltipnik L'nuk - How the People Lived in Mi'kmakik, published in Native Peoples: The Canadian Experience, and Being and Becoming Indigenous Archaeologist, edited by George Nicholas. He is a mentor and valuable resource expert on the Ta'n Weji-sqalia'tiek: Mi'kmaw Place Names Digital Atlas and Website Project. Since its inception, he has offered his knowledge of the landscape of Mi'kma'ki to help contextualize and precisely locate each place name. In 2021, Roger was invited to serve as one of twelve curators as selected from across Canada to provide Interpretation of Contemporary Indigenous art at the new senate building in Ottawa.
Honorary Degree Recipient: James “JC” Curleigh
James “JC” Curleigh
James “JC” Curleigh BComm’89 is Gibson's President and Chief Executive Officer, where he leads the Gibson senior team of proven executives with broad experience in global brand building, finance and product development. JC is a guitar enthusiast and has been a proud owner of both Gibson and Epiphone guitars over the years, including his latest addition – a Gibson 1960’s J-45 acoustic guitar.
Prior to joining Gibson, JC served as the President of the Levi’s brand at Levi Strauss & Co., where he guided strategic shifts, leadership team evolution and market execution for all brands within the Levi Strauss & Co. portfolio, including Levi’s, Dockers, Signature by Levi’s Strauss and DENIZEN by Levi’s. At Levi’s he returned the brand to its iconic status and grew the business profitably every year under his leadership. He has a proven track record from Levi’s of finding ways to leverage heritage and create modern solutions. JC (along with his team) is credited with being the driving force behind the Levi’s resurgence.
Over the years, JC has built a reputation as a brand building expert and has crafted uniquely tailored solutions for a variety of other well-known consumer goods companies, including as president and CEO of KEEN Footwear and of Salomon Sports NA. At KEEN, he steered a young company to years of strong growth and developed a unique brand identity for its future. Additionally, under his leadership at Salomon, he expanded the ski company into a leading innovative action sports brand.
JC holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has furthered his executive education at both Stanford and Harvard. He also has delivered several keynote speeches around the world on progressive brand building, business solutions, and team dynamics. He is a triple citizen of the U.S.A., Canada and the U.K. and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Waterkeeper Alliance. He loves to play music, surf, ski and travel extensively with his wife and three kids.
Honorary Degree Recipient: William (Bill) Linton
William (Bill) Linton
William (Bill) Linton BComm’75 is a corporate director, philanthropist, and investor with over 30 years of business experience. Currently residing in Toronto, he was born and raised in Halifax. Bill comes from a family with a strong tradition of business excellence and giving back to their community through a commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy.
Over the span of his career, Bill has held various senior executive-level positions, including a leading role with one of Canada’s largest publicly traded companies. From 2005 to 2012, he served as Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Rogers Communications Inc. Bill has an outstanding record of achievement in the telecommunications and technology sector in North America. During his tenure as an executive vice president with Rogers, he assembled a best-in-class finance team and significantly strengthened the company’s balance sheet while delivering substantial shareholder value and implementing best practices in financial reporting and controls.
Before his time with Rogers, Bill held other senior executive positions, including President & Chief Executive Officer of Call-Net Enterprises Inc., Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Prior Data Sciences Inc. and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SHL Systemhouse Inc.
Bill serves as a director of Deveron UAS Corp. and TMX Group Limited, as well as a number of private companies. An active investor and advisor, he has provided guidance to many highly successful start-ups in Canada. Along with his wife Marilynne, Bill has been a long-time supporter of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto and the Toronto Reference Library.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.
Gold Medals and Silver Linings: Huskies hockey alumna Kori Cheverie reflects on ‘whirlwind’ coaching journey
Kori Cheverie
On the evening of February 17, 2022, millions of Canadians tuned into the women’s hockey gold medal game at the Beijing Olympics, cheering on Team Canada from their living rooms.
Saint Mary’s alumna Kori Cheverie BA’12 may have been one of the more personally invested viewers in the country, as she was watching as an assistant coach for Team Canada, despite being more than 10,000 kilometres away from the Olympic Games.
Cheverie describes the first few months of 2022 as a “rewarding whirlwind,” as the New Glasgow, NS native has experienced some of the highs and lows of her career while proudly representing Canada.
In January of 2021, Cheverie was named to the coaching staff of the Canadian National Women’s Team.
“That was a dream come true,” said Cheverie. “Growing up as a female hockey player in Canada, that’s the gold standard. I grew up dreaming of playing for the National team, but that’s one of the great things about hockey, there’s always the opportunity to stay involved in the sport, so to represent Team Canada was a lifelong goal.”
But a week before the team was scheduled to fly to Beijing, Cheverie tested positive for COVID-19, meaning she wouldn’t be able to travel to the Games.
“It was devastating news, but the cool thing about our group was we really focused on being a team first,” she said. “When the news came that I wasn’t able to go, I was disappointed but quickly shifted to focus on the silver linings. I went back to Nova Scotia and focused on doing everything I could still do to help us win the gold.”
Despite being stuck on the other side of the world, Cheverie was able to stay involved with the team through virtual meetings and watching all the games live from her living room in Nova Scotia.
“It was a 12-hour time difference, so the math wasn’t too hard… If the team had a 7 p.m. meeting in Beijing, I would be FaceTiming in at 7 a.m. from Nova Scotia,” laughs Cheverie. “It was a hard couple of weeks in terms of sleep schedule, but it was definitely worth it.”
Canada went on to win the gold medal, defeating their American rivals 3-2 in the final. When the final whistle blew, players FaceTimed Cheverie from the ice so she could virtually join in on the team celebrations.
“I talked to the coaches and players every single day and they kept me involved, so I still feel like I was part of the team that won gold.”
Making hockey history
Just two months later, Cheverie reached another major career accomplishment, becoming the first woman to serve as a coach for a Canadian men’s national team when she was named an assistant for Team Canada at the under-18 World Hockey Championships.
“To be honest, when they reached out with that opportunity, I wasn’t thinking too much about being the first woman to coach a men’s team,” recalls Cheverie. “It was just another opportunity to represent my country, work with some great athletes and coaches, and do whatever I could to help the team win.”
“I think it’s important for us as role models, not just for young girls, but for boys too, to be able to see that women can do what men can do in the game.” ”
Team Canada finished fifth at the tournament in Germany, and Cheverie says it was a great opportunity.
“It was a great experience, even though the outcome wasn’t exactly what we wanted. It was great to be a part of these young athletes lives on their trajectory to pro hockey, and their next career steps.”
Now back in Nova Scotia, Cheverie has had time to reflect on her trailblazing accomplishment of being the first woman behind a Canadian Men’s team bench.
“I don’t think I ever sought out to coach on the men’s side, it’s just kind of where the opportunities have led me,” says Cheverie, who also works full time as an assistant coach for the men’s team at Ryerson University.
“The men have been coaching on the women’s side for a really long time, and there are tonnes of qualified women coaches out there, who haven’t always gotten opportunities in the men’s game,” adds Cheverie. “I think it’s important for us as role models, not just for young girls, but for boys too, to be able to see that women can do what men can do in the game.”
Once a Husky, always a Husky
While her hockey journey has seen her travel around the world, Cheverie credits a large part of her career development to her time at Saint Mary’s University.
Kori Cheverie
“I played at Saint Mary’s for five years and it was a great experience. Looking back at my time there, I got a great education, got to play the sport that I loved, and made lifelong friends.”
Cheverie played at Saint Mary’s from 2005–2010, graduating as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She was selected as an AUS First Team All-Star three times, winning the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award twice, was named Saint Mary’s Female Athlete of the Year twice, and represented Team Canada at the 2009 FISU World University Games.
But as one might expect from a future coach, Cheverie points to team success as her greatest accomplishment with the Huskies.
“Winning the AUS Championship in 2010 to finish off my career was amazing, and beating St.FX in the semi-finals was one of my most memorable experiences. Some of my best friends played at St.FX and they were the league favourites for my whole five years, and we didn’t beat them once in the regular season. I’ll never forget beating them in the semi-final, and then going on to win the finals against Moncton.”
Cheverie also credits the roots of her coaching career to her time at Saint Mary’s.
“(Former Huskies coach) Lisa Haley had a huge impact on myself, and many other players that she coached. At the beginning of my time at SMU, I had no ambitions to coach, but in 2009 I got the opportunity to help with some girls’ teams here,” she said. “From that moment on, I stayed in the hockey development world.”
Just 34-years-old, Cheverie still has a lot of goals left to accomplish in her coaching career.
“There’s a lot I still want to do in hockey,” says Cheverie. “I really enjoy the scouting side of the game, and obviously coaching, whether it’s on the bench, from the press box or from another continent. I just want to continue to learn and grow, whether it’s on the men’s side or the women’s side, I want to continue to get the opportunity to stay in the game and learn from the people around me.”
And she offers some advice for anyone chasing a dream, in athletics or not.
“Just stick with it,” says Cheverie. “The most important decision I made was continue to play. After my time at SMU, I moved to Toronto to play in the CWHL. That pushed me into an uncomfortable zone that I had to navigate, but it’s how I ended up with my first full-time coaching jobs, and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s easy to stop playing the sport you love and move on to your career, but you can find so many amazing experiences in the world of sports outside of playing.”
Inspiring words from a proud Huskies alumna who continues to break barriers on and off the ice.
To learn more about our Ice Hockey teams here at SMU, visit our varsity athletics website.
Honouring John “Jack” G. Keith
Jack and Yvonne Keith
The Saint Mary’s University community is saddened to learn of the passing of John “Jack” G. Keith CM, DComm’98 and joins with his family, friends and members of the larger Nova Scotian community in honouring his memory and his contributions, including the warm presence and generosity he demonstrated constantly towards the university. His favourite activity on campus was meeting the recipients of the awards that he and his wife Yvonne established and seeing firsthand how much the support meant to our students.
Jack Keith exemplified the spirit of Saint Mary's by always giving back to the community. When Jack received the Order of Canada in 1993, he was described as a "banker with large reserves of social conscience." He received this honour for his outstanding volunteerism in education, the arts and cancer fundraising.
Jack’s contributions to Saint Mary's were immense. He served as Chair of the Board of Governors at Saint Mary's from 1994-97 and was the founding chair of the Sobey School of Business Advisory Council, a position he held for 18 years, in addition to many other volunteer roles. Jack was presented the Honorary Gold "M" in 1997 by the Saint Mary's University Student Association which is their highest honour for a non-student in recognition of his many contributions to student affairs. Along with Yvonne, he was a loyal supporter at signature university events and was always on hand to cheer on the SMU Huskies football team.
The university is flying flags at half-staff in recognition of Jack. His obituary can be found here John "Jack" Keith Obituary - Halifax, NS (dignitymemorial.com) and memorial donations can be made to the Jack & Yvonne Keith Entrance Bursary at John G. Keith Memorial.
Research Matters: Saint Mary’s Announces Historic $3-million Gift to Graduate Student Research
Imagine the difference one person can make when there’s a community of talented, supportive and driven people—world-leading experts—to lean on, learn from and work with to innovate, disrupt and create change. Thanks to a historic gift in support of graduate student research at Saint Mary’s University, future generations of research pioneers and innovators will take another step on the path toward A World Without Limits.
Saint Mary’s is pleased to announce the establishment of the Durland Scholarships in Graduate Research. The graduate entrance scholarships are supported by a $3-million gift from the Durland Learning Foundation and the Durland Family to A World Without Limits: The Campaign for Saint Mary’s University, marking the single most significant investment in graduate student research in the university’s history.
“We want this gift to reflect the past, the present and the future. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to all the many special faculty members at Saint Mary’s who have so greatly inspired me and so many others throughout the years. Words cannot express our collective gratitude for all you do,” says Saint Mary’s University Chancellor Dr. Michael Durland BComm'87 DComm'10.
“We also wanted to make a gift that will have immediate impact by supporting our current faculty members, students and their extraordinary research. And we wanted to invest in the future of research at Saint Mary’s—to help recruit great graduate students, to help support the future work of our wonderful faculty members, and to encourage researchers from around the world to make Saint Mary’s their home.”
“We want this gift to reflect the past, the present and the future.”
Thanks to the visionary generosity of Chancellor Durland, his wife, Catherine BComm’87, and their family, the Durland Scholarships will strengthen the university’s ability to recruit and retain top graduate students to its research-based programs. The scholarship program will grant supplemental awards of $10,000 per year for graduate students and $15,000 per year for PhD students, as an addition to other awards and funding from the university. The awards are university-wide, renewable and available to students beginning in fall 2022.
“This transformative gift will support us in attracting the best and brightest graduate students to our university, strengthening our research capacity and positioning Saint Mary’s for the incredible growth and success that is outlined in our strategic research plan,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “On behalf of the entire Santamarian community, I want to thank the Durland Family—Dr. Michael Durland, our chancellor, his wife, Catherine Durland, both proud Saint Mary’s alumni, and their family, for their incredible generosity and their vision in supporting graduate research.”
Graduate students at Saint Mary’s work closely with award-winning faculty in an environment that encourages curiosity and creativity among students and faculty alike. Within the university’s 29 diverse graduate degree programs, students benefit from the best of both worlds—close interaction and a sense of community, yet access to state-of-the-art resources and facilities.
“This transformative gift will support us in attracting the best and brightest graduate students to our university”
Saint Mary's University is known for research that addresses pressing world issues such as climate change and the environment, where leading researchers restore salt marshes. The university's researchers engage in scholarship at the intersection of climate and communities, including work with
Indigenous and international communities on challenges facing their livelihoods and conservation efforts. The university fosters innovative scientific research, from combating balance disorders to understanding black holes and building the newest great space telescope. The Sobey School of Business challenges our understanding of global migration, immigration and what it means to be a modern, global citizen. The school is also engaged in research around innovation in business and workplace studies, including the pandemic's impact on employers and employees and what the big virtual shift means for companies and their employees moving forward.
The examples above in climate change and the environment, community connection and innovative science, modern global citizenship, and innovation in business and workplace studies represent the five strategic research priorities and areas that will be supported through today’s graduate scholarship announcement.
“The Durland Scholarships in Graduate Research are closely aligned with the university’s new strategic research plan and will promote and support a broad spectrum of graduate research activity in Arts, Science and Business, bringing forth new collaborations, knowledge and innovations,” says Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President of Academic and Research. “These new scholarships will bolster our research by enabling us to recruit the best and brightest students to work and train in our labs, where we will foster and nurture their passion and potential in a rich and thriving collaborative research environment, leading to new discoveries, new innovations and new pathways toward A World Without Limits.”
SMU Community Surpasses Giving Tuesday Goal
Giving Tuesday Goal surpassed again this year!
On November 30, Saint Mary’s alumni, faculty, staff and friends worked together to raise more than $27,000 to support the Student Wellness Fund and promote food security for SMU students this Giving Tuesday.
Thanks to the generosity of the J & W Murphy Foundation and a top-up by the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, all individual gifts were matched. Gifts and the matching funds will directly impact students through initiatives such as the on-campus Community Food Room, the Enactus Saint Mary’s Square Roots vegetable bundle program, as well as provide care packages for students not able to travel home this holiday season.
A huge thanks to the Saint Mary’s community for making this Giving Tuesday one of the most successful ever. Thank you for helping keep our students fed, learning and thriving.
Top Canadian Business Leaders Lead New Sobey School Programs
Bradley Farquhar and Joe Power
The next great wave of entrepreneurs is benefiting from the advice and expertise of three top Canadian business leaders joining the Sobey School of Business through the new Sobey Executive-In-Residence and Alumni-In-Residence programs.
Ian D. Smith
Ian D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, and Purple Cow Internet Co-founders and Saint Mary’s University alumni, Bradley Farquhar BComm’08 and Joe Power BComm’11 are the inaugural class of executives taking part in the new in-residence programs presented by the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network. The network hosts in-residence programs, such as Executive-In-Residence (EIR) and Alumni-In-Residence (AIF), giving students access to some of Canada's and Nova Scotia’s top business leaders. They are selected based on their passion for entrepreneurship and their ability to provide students with a breadth of advice and information.
“The Sobey School of Business is proud to welcome Ian, Bradley, and Joe as our inaugural business leaders taking part in the new Sobey Executive-In-Residence and Alumni-In-Residence programs,” says Mohammad Rahaman, Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement at the Sobey School of Business. “They bring with them knowledge and expertise from which our students will greatly benefit. I appreciate their commitment to joining with us as we prepare the next generation of great Canadian entrepreneurs for success."
Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry. Prior to joining Clearwater, Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China. Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.
Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy, including the Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation. He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.
Bradley Farquhar graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a double major in finance and marketing. Farquhar is a native of Nova Scotia, aspiring astronaut, and co-founder of Purple Cow Internet. Future business goals include the building of space habitats that orbit the Earth to serve paying customers offering a once in a lifetime view of our blue marble. Passions include endurance challenges with notable accomplishments of swimming the English Channel, summiting Denali, running 250 miles across the Sahara Desert, and most recently racing 14 dogs a thousand miles across Alaska in the Iditarod race.
Joe Power grew up in Nova Scotia and graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2011. In 2013, Power moved to the United States of America to chase his entrepreneurial goals in the green energy space. Since then, he has collected significant accolades such as receiving the INC 5000 fastest growing US business award three years in a row and the top Energy Reduction Company award for California five years running. Power loves playing hockey, IronMan triathlons, travel and time with family and friends. In 2019, Power decided to do something different. Power partnered with SMU grad, friend, and successful entrepreneur Brad Farquhar to co-found Purple Cow Internet. The goal was simple, drive change and cost for internet access in Nova Scotia.
The term for the EIR and AIR programs is one year, and the executives begin their time with the Sobey School the start of November 2021.