From court to corporate: Keisha Turner’s ace transition to entrepreneurship

Keisha Turner BA’12

This year, Saint Mary’s celebrates the 50th anniversary of women in varsity sport. Throughout the year, we will highlight women in sport like Keisha Turner BA'12—an inspiring athlete, innovative entrepreneur, dedicated philanthropist and valued Saint Mary's community member.

Whether speaking at an event, helping with volleyball camp, through her ongoing work with the Arthur L. Entrepreneurship Centre, or sharing her experience with students and other professionals, Keisha always takes advantage of an opportunity to get involved.

Keisha has been a devoted Huskies Varsity Volleyball team member since 2007. In 2010, she played a crucial role in the team's AUS Championship victory, setting the team on the path to success that continues today.

Even after graduating, Keisha continued to support the team as an Assistant Volleyball Coach until 2020. While coaching, Keisha shared her unique approach to success on the court. Her coaching philosophy, which blends physical preparedness with mental resilience, demonstrates her multifaceted approach to leadership—a quality that extends beyond sports into her entrepreneurial endeavours.

Now, Keisha remains an active member of the team's community by raising funds and cheering them on courtside and online.

Women's Atlantic University Sport Volleyball Championship, 2010

Keisha and Michael

Since graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Keisha combined her passion for sport, health and mindfulness to establish a career as an entrepreneur. With her husband, Michael Polak BComm'14, she has formed Akwekon—a consulting firm that guides Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations in the reconciliation of colonial and Indigenous practices.

More recently, Keisha co-founded Starberry Drink Co., a testament to innovation in the beverage industry, offering a refreshing, all-natural drink made from whole strawberries, maple syrup and water.

With her experience as an entrepreneur and athlete, Keisha has been named an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary's. In this role, Keisha is nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and enriching the Saint Mary's University's community by bridging academic theory with real-world business practices.

Keisha, a Black female entrepreneur and community leader, has established the Turner Bursary for African Canadian and Indigenous Women. She takes pride in the pivotal role bursaries played in her success and is committed to promoting positive change and student success at Saint Mary's University.

To honour her dedication to Saint Mary's University and exceptional volunteer service, the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association presented her with the Paul Lynch Alumni Volunteer Award in 2023.

50 Years of Women in Varsity Sport at Saint Mary’s University

Celebrating the trailblazers who paved the way

Kathy Mullane MBA’89. Photo: James MacLean

Today, the women’s Huskies at Saint Mary’s University are among the top-ranked teams and individual athletes, both provincially and nationally. But in the 1970s, the leadership of a few dedicated Santamarians helped blaze a trail to women’s varsity success.

Women at Saint Mary's have played field hockey, basketball and volleyball at the club level since the university opened its doors to women in the late 1960s. As the clubs grew in popularity, and the men’s varsity teams earned national titles, the women sought to form organized teams. In 1973, Dr. Owen Carrigan, then President of Saint Mary's University and father to several athletic daughters, recognized the need for a formal women's athletic program. Bob Hayes, then Athletic Director, agreed that a women's varsity program could attract more students and provide equal opportunities in sport.

Dr. Carrigan hired Kathy Mullane MBA'89 to establish a women's varsity program and coach the basketball team. Acknowledging that most women athletes were playing more than one sport, Mullane insisted on coaching the field hockey team at the varsity level as well.

Susan (Dunbrack) Beazley - 1973

"When Saint Mary's was looking to join the varsity league, other universities were hesitant and thought that we would recruit players in a way similar to the men's teams. To prove that we could be competitive on our own, we spent a year playing at the junior varsity level before moving up to varsity," says Mullane.

The 1973 Field Hockey and Basketball junior varsity teams were determined and dedicated, earning their spot in the varsity program the following year. Despite the newfound support for a women's varsity program, the teams faced challenges—including sharing the already stretched-thin men's athletics budget. With little funding for the women's program, the team got creative with their day-to-day operations. Mullane remembers mopping the gym floors and cleaning the showers and toilets herself. Undeterred, Mullane and the women on the teams made the most of it.

1974-1975: Varsity Basketball Team. Front: Susan Dunbrack, Patsy Pyke, Cindy Britten, Wanda Williams, Cathy Fifield, Jody Hayes. Back: Wendy Purkis, Jane May, Kim Robson, Neila McCabe, Kathy Ells, Leslie Simpson, and Kathy Mullane (Coach).

While they had earned their spot at the varsity level, recruiting new students to play was also a challenge. "As a new program, it was difficult to compete in recruiting athletes with the universities that offered physical education or kinesiology," says Mullane. She recalls searching the residence halls for students interested in playing. Creatively, she also tried to recruit students from the commerce program, selling the opportunity to develop business-related skills by participating in competitive sports.

Mullane would be the university’s first full-time female coach, remaining at the university until 2011. In her 37 years at Saint Mary’s, she held various roles within the Athletics department and enjoyed many successes including leading her teams to four Atlantic Universities Athletics Association (now Atlantic University Sport) titles and being inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1998.

The 1970s marked a significant turning point for women as they forged new paths and explored areas they had always dreamed of reaching. One of Saint Mary's most notable actions during this time was developing the women's varsity athletic program, made possible by the initiative of the women who came together and formed the initial club teams, the support of the university administration, and the significant leadership and guidance of Kathy Mullane.

In 2022, the Kathy Mullane Fund for Varsity Women’s Sport was created in recognition of Mullane’s leadership at the university. The fund contributes to scholarships, coaching development and support for women interested in sports administration.

Help celebrate this momentous time by supporting women's athletics at Saint Mary's—donate to the Kathy Mullane Fund for Varsity Women's Sport.

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Related Stories

• From the Huskies to the NHL: Grit and tenacity pay off

• Justine Colley-Leger: Inspiring young women with her legacy 

• New Fund Celebrates the Advancement of Women in Sport at Saint Mary’s

From the Huskies to the NHL: Grit and tenacity pay off

This year, Saint Mary’s celebrates the 50th anniversary of women in varsity sport. Throughout the year, we will highlight women in sport at Saint Mary’s, like hockey pro Courtney Schriver-Richard BA’11, who followed her dream to the NHL.

Courtney Schriver-Richard BA’11

Courtney Schriver-Richard BA’11 chuckles when she talks about her early days playing hockey. “I am your quintessential Canadian,” she says. “I basically came out of the womb as a hockey player.”

Born in Newfoundland but raised in Halifax, Courtney was playing hockey by the time she was three. She was inspired by an older brother, and even though there weren’t many girls playing in the 1990s, that didn’t stop her. “I was a bit of an anomaly at that time, but I started playing as soon as they would allow me to register.”

She had early and profound success as a hockey player, leaving her family for Mississauga when she was only 15 to play in the Ontario Women’s Hockey League. “It was an incredible experience but I was also homesick and forced to grow up quickly,” she says. “I thought of that as the price I had to pay for playing the game I loved so much.”

When it came time to choose a university, Halifax called her back. Saint Mary’s, with their strong hockey program and well-respected head coach, seemed like the obvious choice. “Lisa (Jordan) Haley had been a bit of a mentor and a role model for me growing up,” says Courtney. "I knew she was tough and fair and that she would give me the tools I needed to be successful in university hockey.”

And to the surprise of no one, Courtney, or “Schriv” as she came to be known, did succeed. Her long list of accolades includes AUS Rookie of the Year, AUS MVP, three-time AUS First Team, CIS Rookie of the Year, and CIS First Team All-Canadian. Most impressive of all, is the Huskies record that Courtney still holds for the most goals scored in a single season.

Head Coach Lisa Haley first saw Courtney play hockey when she was in her mid-teens and trying out for the U18 Canada Games team. “Her natural hockey talents were obvious to everyone,” says Lisa. “It’s like she had the puck on a string every time it touched her stick. And her shot was lethal.”

While it was clear that her hockey talent was at an elite level, that’s not what made Courtney a "generational" player, as the best in the game are often described. She was loaded with what Lisa describes as ‘grit.'

Courtney (center) drops the puck at a SMU Huskies hockey game. She was an Honorary Co-Chair of the 2019 Huskies Hockey reunion.

““I could see that she had so much potential, and that hasn’t changed. Schriv’s potential is still sky-high. She’s earned everything she’s accomplished in her amazing career and is also an incredible role model to the student-athletes who are following in her footsteps.””

— Lisa Haley

Mentally tough. Incredibly focused. Driven. These are common terms used to describe Courtney both on and off the ice. It’s these qualities that enabled her to set her sights on the NHL early in her career and to make that dream come true.

Right from her graduation from Saint Mary’s, she made a point of trying to align herself with brands that were sports-related. Her first job was a Marketing position with Tim Hortons, where part of her job was managing the marketing portfolio for their TimBits Hockey. She then moved on to another Canadian sports brand, Boston Pizza, where she developed relationships with some of the NHL brands.

Her tenacity to work in the game of hockey paid off when she was offered the position of General Manager of Business for the Cape Breton Eagles, part of the Quebec Major Junior League. She worked her butt off, learning every intricacy of the game, not unlike a player or a coach, and this culminated in an offer from the Edmonton Oilers in 2022 as their Manager of Corporate Partnerships.

"Working at the highest level in hockey was always my goal and working in the NHL was the ultimate dream,” says Courtney, who adds it’s been a team effort. “I’m so grateful to my husband and son who have basically moved every two years in support of my dream of getting here. It hasn’t been easy but they’ve made those sacrifices for me.”

Her son, Nash, age 11, has followed in his mom’s footsteps, and plays hockey too, loving the perks of her job. “It makes me happy that my family, after all they’ve done for me, get to reap some of the benefits of my work,” says Courtney who takes her family to as many Oilers games as they can get to.

Courtney credits Saint Mary’s with helping her learn how to multi-task, perform under pressure, and be accountable to those she makes commitments to. “At SMU, I was a student first and an athlete second, and to play the game I loved, I had to do well in the classroom.”

She also deeply appreciates the deep and enduring friendships she made while playing for the Huskies. “There are so many amazing women who I shared experiences with and learned so much from,” she says, adding that they also had a lot of fun. She fondly remembers the bus trips, the hotels, and that first step onto the ice of the old SMU rink during early morning practices.

Courtney marvels at how things have changed for women athletes in the past couple of decades. “There are so many different paths for young women athletes to go down now, so many different options available. Many more than there were for me, it’s a different landscape.”

And when she gets the chance to talk to university-aged women athletes about their futures, she always makes a point of telling them that the NHL isn’t just for men. “There are so many jobs working in the game and there are jobs for you, as a woman, if the NHL is your dream too. If this is the place you want to be, there are opportunities here for you to live that dream.”

By Renée Hartleib

Justine Colley-Leger: Inspiring young women with her legacy

This year, Saint Mary’s celebrates the 50th anniversary of women in varsity sport. Throughout the year, we will highlight women in sport at Saint Mary’s, like basketball superstar Justine Colley-Leger BComm'14, who continues to inspire young women athletes today. 

Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14

You could say that sport, specifically basketball, has always been a part of Justine Colley-Leger’s BComm’14 life. In fact, her daycare teachers still talk about how, as a toddler, she would ask them to get the basketball out of the toy box so she could shoot on the four-foot hoop!  

The youngest of five, who grew up in East Preston, Justine’s sports journey began when she was eight years old. Her Mom took her to an open session of the Cole Harbour Rockets for the under-10 age group, and when they got there, Justine was the only kid who could dribble with both hands and reach the hoop.

The coach noticed and told the mother and daughter duo about an under-12 girls' basketball team that was just starting. He encouraged Justine to try out. “That was the start of someone taking notice of my skills and placing me on a trajectory,” she says. “One where I would be playing against older and often more skilled people than myself.”  

For years, she was the smallest kid on the court, coming home with many bumps and bruises. But now, she can see how these experiences of being the underdog helped her build resilience. They also helped build her skill level.   

By the time she was 14, Justine was playing on the high school varsity basketball team at Halifax Grammar School, where she was enrolled for Grades 9-12. Once again, she was playing at a level above her age group and against girls who were many years older.   

To no one’s surprise, Justine excelled and, upon graduation, was recruited by countless Canadian universities and a handful of NCAA schools in the States. Ultimately, she chose to stay in Nova Scotia and attend Saint Mary’s, where her older sister had also gone. “I knew that at some point I’d have to put the basketball down, so that was a part of my decision to go to Saint Mary’s. I was drawn to their strong academic program. Plus, I’m a real homebody,” she adds with a laugh. “I like to see familiar faces and eat home-cooked meals!”  

In her five years at Saint Mary’s, Justine became a basketball superstar. She led the Huskies to two AUS championships and CIS (now U-Sports) silver and bronze medals. She also earned two-time AUS MVP, four-time All-Canadian, and five-time AUS first-team All-Star, while playing more than 40 games with the Canadian national team.   

“Justine was a tremendous leader who helped elevate Saint Mary’s Women’s basketball on the national stage, lifting the team to its first-ever regular season #1 national ranking,” says Head Coach Scott Munro. “A player and person like Justine only come along once in a long while. It was an honour and a pleasure to coach and watch her leave her mark on Saint Mary’s University and Canadian University basketball.”  

To this day, Justine still holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in the history of Canadian women’s university basketball and, in 2019, was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.  

She made some lifelong friends during her years of Huskies basketball and loved playing for the huge crowds their games drew. “It’s rare that a women’s game gets more spectators than the men’s team, but that’s what happened in those days,” she says. “The stands were always full.”  

It’s these types of stories that she loves to share with young women in the hope that they, too, will enjoy the tremendous benefits that sport can bring to life. And with stats showing that pre-teen girls tend to step away from sports as they work their way through their teens, Justine thinks it’s crucial that these girls hear stories of women who have had successful athletic careers in high school and university.   

“When we tell the stories of successful female athletes, this inspires young women to follow that path as well, and then to reap the benefits to their overall well-being - physically, mentally, and socially.”  

Justine began dating her husband, Maj. Nicolas Leger, in her university years. They now have four children and have returned to East Preston to raise their family. She loves being close to her parents and extended family and relishes the strong community vibe of the place she calls home.  

Sport continues to be a considerable part of Justine’s life—she now plays in the semi-professional Maritime Women’s Basketball Association—and six months ago, she accepted the position of Athletic Director at Halifax Grammar School. She’s having a ball and is also putting her Major in Finance to good use, creating budgets and using some of the time management skills she gained during her university years when she had to juggle sports, academics, part-time work, and family life.  

She’s been asked to give presentations on her athletic career within the school and can feel her impact on the students there. “It’s a real privilege to inspire others, especially young people,” says Justine. “I feel so appreciative, fortunate, and blessed to be in this role.” 

By Renée Hartleib 

Free access to the Homburg Centre for "Get Fit Week"!

SMUfit's holiday gift to faculty and staff is our "Get Fit" week, December 11-17, 2023!

All faculty and staff will receive free access to the Homburg Centre, including: 

• The weight and cardio rooms 

• Drop In fitness classes 

• Pilates Classes 

• Steam and Sauna 

• Community Room booking 

• Drop-in sports 

As a bonus, any faculty/staff who decide to purchase a membership during “Get Fit” week will receive an extra 15% discount on their already discounted membership. We are looking forward to seeing you in December!

Bob Dawson, leader in the fight against racism, to receive an honorary doctorate

Saint Mary’s University will recognize Bob Dawson BA’71 with an honorary doctorate in Civil Law at the 2023 Spring Convocation, celebrating his leadership in fighting racism both on and off the ice. While attending Saint Mary’s University in 1967, Dawson became the first Black athlete to play in the former Atlantic Intercollegiate Hockey League where he was often the target of verbal and physical abuse.

In 1970, he became a member of the first all-Black line in Canadian university hockey, which included Darrell Maxwell and Percy Paris. His commitment to fighting racism did not end when he left university but continues to the present day.

Bob Dawson and teammates recognized as the first all-Black line at SMU Homecoming in 2017

After completing his Masters in Social Work in 1973 at Dalhousie University, Dawson joined the Public Service of Canada in Halifax and later moved to Ottawa in 1980 where he worked for 37-years in human resources management and received several awards for contributions to employment equity and diversity. 

“We are very pleased to honour Bob Dawson,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “He has carried his commitment to fight racism beyond the hockey arena and into the wider Canadian society. He shows us what it means to be a leader and live by values that will inspire others, especially future generations.”

As a member of the Ottawa-Carleton Area Police Community Council, Dawson helped develop a community action strategy to prevent, manage and resolve critical incidents involving the police and communities of colour. While with the National Capital Alliance on Race Relations, he established and implemented the “Police-Minority Youth Program”, a community-based initiative to improve relations between the police and youth and was recognized with a Civilian Citation in 1992 and Community Service Award in 1993 from the Police Services Boards for the cities of Gloucester and Ottawa. 

Over the years, Dawson has worked with numerous community organizations and universities to organize events and conferences to address racism in hockey. One of his proudest moments came when his request to Canada Post for a stamp to commemorate the “125th anniversary of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (CHLM)” was approved and issued on January 24, 2020. He is currently working with the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa to create an archival collection on the CHLM. Since February 2021, Dawson has been working with students and staff at the R.I.S.E. Academy on hockey-related initiatives, which included an anti-racism campaign entitled “Blow The Whistle on Racism”.

Dawson played for the SMU Huskies from 1967-1971

An accomplished sportswriter and historian, Dawson writes extensively on Blacks in various sports, especially hockey. On January 25, 2015, he received from Black History Ottawa the John G. Dennison Award for excellence in the study, preservation, and promotion of Canadian Black history and culture. In 2022, The Hockey News recognized him as one of the Social Change Advocates Making An Impact for his work in the areas of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.

On February 22, 2022, the NHL’s Ottawa Senators presented Dawson with a Senators’ jersey in appreciation for his contributions to growing the game of hockey in Ottawa. At the Carnegie Initiative Summit in January 2023 in Toronto, he was presented with the Carnegie Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to challenging the status quo to make hockey more inclusive.

In recent years, Dawson has returned to his alma mater to reunite with teammates and to host conferences devoted to ending racism and promoting equity and inclusion for Black athletes.

“Bob has been a lifelong ambassador of Saint Mary’s University as an athlete, a scholar, and a professional and he has dedicated his life to Black inclusion in Nova Scotia and beyond,” says Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, Associate Director of Outreach and Instructor, Centre for the Study of Sport & Health. “His intellectual and practical contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in hockey specifically have informed my own work as a sport scholar. I consider it a privilege to have been asked to deliver the citation for his honorary degree at the graduation ceremony in May.”

Athletics and science summer camps

Saint Mary’s University summer camps offer exciting opportunities for hands-on learning, skill-building and fun for kids and teens! Check out our science and Jr. Huskies athletics camps available this summer.

Science

Marine Mammal Camp 
July 29-August 7, 2023
Ages 14-17

Campers will work together to explore the biology and evolution of marine mammals using surveys, photo-identification, acoustic monitoring, DNA analysis, examination of marine mammal skeletons, and more! Camp begins at Saint Mary’s University and moves to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, where campers will participate in the daily operations of scientific fieldwork and field camp life.

Marine Mammal Summer Camp is presented by Saint Mary’s University and the Canadian Whale Institute.

Due to the nature of the camp and the travel involved, there are limited spaces for campers. Because of this, interested students must apply and be accepted to Marine Mammal Camp before they can register. Applications are due by April 11, 2023.

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Forensic Science Camp

• July 10-14, 2023

• July 17-21, 2023

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages: 14-17

This camp will introduce campers to the basics of the field of forensic science. Through hands-on application of lab and field-based research techniques and practices, campers will work together to explore how the sciences are applied in forensic situations as well as the theories and principles underlying these applications.

Cost is $375. Applications are due by May 8, 2023.

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Jr. Huskies Athletics

Basketball

All genders
Five-Day Camp
July 3-7, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Supervised from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-12

Five days of fundamental skill development, modified games and fun-filled basketball activity. Quality coaching by Varsity Head Coaches for Men's and Women's Basketball, assistant coaches and some of the best student-athletes in Canada. The cost is $240, which includes a camp t-shirt.

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Boys

Five-Day Camps

• July 24-28, 2023

• July 31-August 4, 2023

• August 7-11, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Drop-offs and pick-ups between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-13

Emphasis on individual skill development and team concepts of offence and defence. Also, skills contests, game situation drills and full-court games. Quality coaching by Varsity Head Coach Jonah Taussig and Men's Basketball Huskies members. There is limited registration for each camp, and cost is $240, including a camp t-shirt.

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Girls

Five-Day Camps

• July 10-14, 2023

• August 14-18, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Drop-offs and pick-ups between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-13

These camps emphasize individual skill development and team concepts of offence and defence. Also, skills contests, game situation drills and full-court games. Quality coaching for girls’ basketball camp by Head Coach Scott Munro and Women's Varsity Huskies members. The cost is $240, which includes a camp t-shirt.

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Hockey

All genders

SMU Prospects Training Camp
August 28-31, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014
Girls: born 2009-2010

For Elite Level AA/AAA players. Extensive off-ice training, information and exposure to cutting-edge training techniques. On-ice sessions focus on five skills components, competing situations and small area games. Interactive classroom teaching and specialized individual goaltender training.

Registration is limited. The cost is $425, which includes a hockey jersey.

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Goaltending Camp
August 1-4, 2023 (4 day camp)
Players born 2010-2012: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
2008-2009: 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
2007+: 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Multiple on-ice daily sessions plus classroom sessions and off-ice activities for 2010-2012 & 2008-2009 groups. 2007+ group has one on-ice session and off-ice gym/workout per day.

Registration is limited. The cost is $599, which includes a hockey jersey. 2007+ group cost is $259.

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Boys

Jr. Huskies Dynamic Skating and Skills
August 7-11, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012, 2013-2014 (FULL DAY): 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2017-2018 (HALF DAY): 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Players born 2015-2016 (HALF DAY): 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Extensive off-ice training, information and exposure to cutting-edge training techniques. On-ice sessions include five skills components, competing situations and small area games. Daily goaltender instruction and interactive classroom teaching.
Registration is limited. The cost is $250 for a half-day and $495 for a full day, including a hockey jersey.

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Jr. Huskies Defensive and Offensive Camps
August 21-25, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012 & 2013-2014: Scoring & Battling Camp
Players born 2011-2012 & 2013-2014: Advanced Defensive Development

Defensive camp on-ice sessions include lateral and backward skating, situational passing, shooting from the point and defending. Offensive camp on-ice sessions include shooting, deking, scoring skills in small spaces, balance/strength on skates, puck protection, and power moves for body positioning. 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio and interactive classroom teaching. Ten hours (minimum) of on-ice training.

Registration is limited. The cost is $549 which includes a hockey jersey.

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Girls

Five-Day Development Camp
August 14-18, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2017

All sessions are run by SMU coaching staff and players. This an excellent opportunity to get ready for the upcoming season! This week-long camp is designed for players wanting to improve all aspects of their game. The daily schedule includes two on-ice sessions, off-ice fitness, an off-ice puck skills session and an instructional classroom session. Players will be challenged in a fun learning environment, playing in small area games and other compete-type stations.
Registration is limited. The cost is $435 and $350 for goalies.

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Soccer

Micro Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-off/pick-up 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 5-7

Micro Huskies allows young players to develop physical literacy and fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, landing, passing and dribbling in a fun setting built around play and positive reinforcement.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Mini Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-off/pick-up 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 8-10

Mini Huskies allows players to develop their movement ABCs - agility, balance, coordination and speed - and learn the fundamentals of the game while emphasizing fun, cooperation and maximum time on the ball within a challenging environment.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Jr. Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 11-13

Junior Huskies is geared toward players looking to improve their skills and soccer IQ. The sessions will focus on advanced soccer skills and introducing position-specific techniques and concepts.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Volleyball

Girls

• August 21-25, 2023

• August 28-September 1, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 12-18

The overall goal of this camp is to provide an environment where volleyball players can develop their skills and have fun playing the game. Campers will be grouped by age and/or experience level (preference can be accommodated to provide social experience within the context of the camp goals - campers can choose to change groups if they prefer). Classroom sessions will be included (for example strength training, sports taping, nutrition, etc.).

Registration is capped at 80 campers. The cost is $250.

Football

All genders

July 24-26, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 6-12 (Non-contact) & 9-14 (Contact)

Full gear required for contact camp. Cost for non-contact camp is $150 and cost for contact camp is $190.

Shae Demale receives Top 8 Academic All-Canadian award

Shae Demale and Governor General Mary May Simon

Saint Mary’s Huskies women’s hockey forward Shae Demale was honoured recently as a Top 8 Academic All-Canadian for the 2021-22 season by U SPORTS.

 In the 2021-22 academic year, more than 4,900 student-athletes achieved U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status by maintaining an average of 80 percent or higher while competing for one or more of varsity teams and volunteering in their communities.

 From this pool of top athletes, an elite group is chosen from across Canada to make up the Top 8, making this one of the most prestigious recognitions in U SPORTS.

 Shae, now 22 years old, received the award at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

 “It was a surprise and honour to be recognized,” said Shae. “I couldn’t have imagined this when I was starting to play, but I knew that there was a lot of opportunity and I worked hard at everything I did. When you do that, it can take you a long way.”

 Shae started her athletic career at a young age in Red Deer, AB, first in ringette before switching to hockey in grade six. She is now a volunteer coach with young players in the Metro West Force Female Hockey Club in Halifax.

 “It’s rewarding to work with young female players,” said Shae. “It’s an important part of sports and especially female sports, to get role models for them—and I love doing it.”

 Shae was the most valuable player in AUS women’s hockey last season, leading the conference with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists). She has just returned from Lake Placid, New York, where she won a gold medal as a member of Team Canada at the 2023 World University Games.

 As a science student majoring in biology with a minor in psychology, Shae has maintained a perfect 4.30 GPA in the past two years and has earned a spot on the Dean’s List for four academic years.

 In 2020, she received the Saint Mary’s President’s Award for top academic and athletic performance. She is also a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, and has won the Dr. John C. O’C. Young Award for having the highest grade in chemistry, along with several other awards from Saint Mary’s for her academic standing and community involvement. She also volunteers in the emergency department at the IWK Health Centre.

 After graduation this spring, she hopes to play in a professional hockey league either in North America or Europe before returning to school to pursue graduate studies in a medical field.

The Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation was founded in 2013 by the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, who first honoured Canada's Top 8 student-athletes.

Along with Shae, the other winners were: Alex Carson of Dalhousie, Jade Downie-Landry of McGill University, Jean-Simon Desgagnés of Laval, Raphaël Garcia of Carleton, Kate Current of Western, and Eric Lutz and Rebecca Smith of Calgary were all nominated for their excellence both on and off the field of play. The awards were presented on January 26, 2023.

Saint Mary's to host CFL's Touchdown Atlantic 2023

The east coast's biggest celebration of football – Touchdown Atlantic – will return to the region on Saturday, July 29, 2023 as the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts will take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.

"Saint Mary's University is pleased to welcome the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders to Huskies Stadium in Halifax this summer," said Scott Gray, Saint Mary's Director of Athletics & Recreation. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our campus and community, and in particular, our football program, to experience the excitement of professional football. We are very grateful to the CFL for this incredible opportunity to play host to this event."

The regular season match-up is set for Huskies Stadium on the campus of Saint Mary's University, with kick-off at 5 p.m. in Halifax (Atlantic Standard Time), which is 4 p.m. in Ontario (Eastern Time) and 2 p.m. in Saskatchewan (Central Standard Time).

"Touchdown Atlantic brings our fans together in a fun and exciting way," said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

"It's our way of showing our friends in Atlantic Canada that they're an important part of the CFL family – and inviting our fans from across the country to 'come for the game and stay for a vacation.'"

Next year's edition builds on the success of Touchdown Atlantic in 2022. Last summer's game, also played between Saskatchewan and Toronto, sold out in less than 24 hours and featured a packed house of 10,866 at Raymond Field on the campus of Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.

Through job creation and wages, event expenditures and spending by out-of-town travellers, the event supported more than $12.7 million in overall economic activity across Nova Scotia. Tourism operators say Halifax is ready for CFL football – and another strong contingent of visiting CFL fans.

The Saint Mary's University football program is one of the most successful in the country and one of the most popular in the region. The Huskies have reached the Vanier Cup nine times, winning the national championship of Canadian university football on three occasions (1973, 2001 and 2002).

"Saint Mary's University has a proud tradition of excellence for student-athletes – including in Huskies' football," adds Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University. "The opportunity to host the CFL's Touchdown Atlantic football game in July 2023 is an opportunity to demonstrate this proud tradition to a national audience. We are delighted to partner with the Canadian Football League in this initiative to bring superior athletes to our campus and to Atlantic Canada."

Ticket details for Touchdown Atlantic 2023 will be announced in the new year. Fans can subscribe to the CFL Newsletter for the latest updates and information.

QUOTES

"I am thrilled to welcome the CFL back to Halifax for the 2023 Touchdown Atlantic game. This past season we hosted several events that re-introduced fans from across the region and the country to our Atlantic hospitality as a sports city. Halifax is excited to be the host city for the rematch between the Roughriders and the Argonauts. Having the game in Halifax will allow us to give the CFL and its fans an experience that will have them coming back for more."
​– Mayor Mike Savage, Halifax Regional Municipality

"There are few, if any, places on the planet I enjoy visiting more than Atlantic Canada. You've opened your arms to us in the past and welcomed us like family members and I celebrate your formidable history of embracing others. We once again are looking forward to your unique hospitality; a combination of warm hearts, down home music and some of the most delectable food imaginable. We look forward to being the home team on July 29, and to being the visiting team in the future when the CFL permanently calls Atlantic Canada home."
​– Michael "Pinball" Clemons, General Manager, Toronto Argonauts

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Halifax after an incredible visit for Touchdown Atlantic in 2022. The people of Nova Scotia welcomed us with open arms and it was so special to see how many of our fans traveled thousands of miles to join us. I know I speak for all Rider Nation when I say we can't wait to go back and share that amazing East Coast experience again in 2023!"
​– Craig Reynolds, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Roughriders 

"Halifax was host to many successful Touchdown Atlantic related events last year, so we're very pleased the CFL is bringing the game itself to our region. Halifax has a reputation as a great sports city, from hosting international sporting events to supporting our local teams, and the tourism sector is ready to showcase our region and hospitality to CFL fans and visitors."
​– Ross Jefferson, President and CEO, Discover Halifax

Creating opportunities for Indigenous girls in sport

Creating safe and welcoming places on campus and through sport is at the forefront of everything Ryan Francis stands for. In 2019, he co-founded the Indigenous Girls Hockey Program, which operates in Eskasoni, Membertou and Truro, NS (close to Millbrook First Nation and Sipkne’katik First Nation), and has seen nearly 200 school-age girls participate. He believes that representation and connection are vital for a positive experience in hockey and that helping Indigenous girls to experience the game with their peers is important.

Huskies hockey player Erin Denny (of Eskasoni First Nation) has been involved since the beginning, providing the girls with insight into her lived experience and encouraging them to feel seen, heard and understood in an environment that is comfortable and familiar.

“As a SMU hockey player, it’s great to be able to connect with the broader community,” says Denny. “Through this program, I can contribute to the development of young athletes and show these girls there is a place for Indigenous youth in sport at every level.”   

Did you know? Ryan Francis, the university’s first Indigenous Visiting Fellow, works closely with our Centre for the Study of Sport and Health on initiatives that increase the knowledge and awareness of Indigenous participation in sport, such as the Red Tape Game and Indigenous Sport Week.

Related links:

• Saint Mary’s University is in Mi’kma’ki

• Hockey for everyone: Huskies host Canadian Blind Hockey for fun practice

• Ryan Francis Returns for Two-Year Indigenous Research Fellowship at Saint Mary’s