Meet your Valedictorian: Emperor Ben Robertson MTEI'23

Emperor Ben Roberston MTEI’23

When Emperor Ben Robertson was selecting a school to obtain his Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation degree, he knew Saint Mary’s University was the right choice.

The university's commitment to providing high-quality education, unique experiential learning opportunities, a vibrant location and extensive student support services contributed to his decision.

His education has provided him with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of technology entrepreneurship and equipped him with the knowledge to help businesses thrive in the digital age.

Q&A with Emperor Ben Robertson

Where is your hometown?: Accra, Ghana.

What was your favourite class?: Out of all the classes I took in my MTEI program, my favourite courses were Technology Entrepreneurship and Tech Strategy and Productivity.

What was the best piece of advice you received?: The most profound piece of advice that has had a significant impact on my life did not come from anybody I know personally. It was a quote that I stumbled upon while walking down Barrington Street that read, "Think and act like failure is impossible for you." This simple yet powerful quote has transformed my perspective on how I approach my goals.

Which instructor had the biggest impact on you?: Throughout my academic journey, I was fortunate to have had many exceptional professors who delivered transformative lectures. However, one professor in particular, Dr. Ramesh Venkat, had an enormous impact on me. Thanks to Dr. Venkat's exceptional teaching, I gained a deeper understanding of marketing and developed valuable skills that have been essential to my career. His influence on me has been invaluable, and I am grateful for the impact he has had on my personal and professional growth.

What was your thesis research?: I collected data on the challenges that businesses faced and explored ways to create opportunities for them to succeed in their respective locations. One of the most intriguing aspects of this research was its timing, as it was conducted during the post-COVID period when businesses were transitioning to new ways of operating. By talking to business owners, I gained valuable insights into their challenges and how they were adapting to the changing business environment.

Overall, this experience gave me a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in the Halifax-Dartmouth area. It also allowed me to develop key skills that are essential in any business environment, including communication, research and problem-solving skills.

What advice would you give to your younger self?: If I could go back and speak to my younger self, I would tell them to try new things and challenge themselves as much as possible. I would encourage them to embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process and to adopt a mindset of "failing fast and failing often."

The reason is simple: by trying new things and taking risks, we are more likely to stumble and fail along the way. However, each failure provides an opportunity to learn and grow; the more we fail the faster we can learn and adapt. This can lead to faster progress and success in the long run.

Do you volunteer in the community?: As a passionate individual interested in promoting economic growth and prosperity, I volunteer as a member of the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Youth Council (REPYC). This council is an initiative aimed at promoting economic growth and prosperity among African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia.

What are your future goals?: I am excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. I am confident that with my skills, knowledge and experience, I will be able to make a meaningful contribution to a multinational company while also pursuing my passion for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Spring Convocation takes place May 17-19, 2023. Watch the ceremonies live at smu.ca/graduation or on our Facebook page.

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.”

Creating a Black Student Society at SMU: Reflections from inaugural president, Oratile Mogae

Oratile Mogae is a fourth-year student in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and has a strong passion for the Black student experience at Saint Mary’s. Currently serving in the role of Black Student Coordinator within the Black Student Advising centre, Mogae works to enhance and engage the Black student experience through student-led programming and initiatives. She strives to create a space for “Black students to come together, learn from each other, network, have fun and just be ourselves.”  

Oratile Mogae, inaugural president of the Black Student Society at Saint Mary’s.

The executive team of the Black Student Society.

Under the Student Affairs and Services portfolio, the Black Student Advising centre (BSA) is a support hub for the Black student community at SMU. Mogae describes it as “a place to discuss any challenges or concerns, whether academically, at home or in life in general.” She emphasizes that “the BSA is a place where you don’t have to worry about what people think about you. It’s a safe space to talk and get support.” 

Mogae also recently co-founded the Saint Mary’s University Black Student Society (BSS) and currently serves as the society’s inaugural president.

“It is history that we finally have a Black Student Society,” she says proudly. “It was important for us to start it before Black History/African Heritage month to create a space for all Black students to come together.”  

SMU is fortunate to have established societies for African students and Caribbean students, however, Mogae notes that “some students don’t belong to a specific ethnic group while others represent more than one Black identity. Establishing a Black Student Society was an opportunity to broaden the scope of belonging for all Black students.”

Mogae was driven to help create a student society “to show our cultures, teach our histories and be unapologetically loud together…this can be the space where we learn from and grow with each other.”  

As she prepares to complete her fourth year and transition out of school, Mogae reflects on what she has helped create, noting, “there can often be division amongst different Black groups, but the BSS is all about coming together to celebrate those differences.” She shares that her hope for the Black Student Society “is to unite Black students and become a community together at SMU; to uplift each other in a positive way.”  

The Turner Bursary for African Canadian and Indigenous Women

Keisha Turner BA’12.

Saint Mary’s is proud to offer a new bursary to African Canadian and Indigenous women through the generosity of SMU alumna, Keisha Turner BA’12.

The Turner Bursary reflects Keisha’s identity as a community leader and her own lived experience as a Black female entrepreneur:

"I am so excited to be able to offer this bursary over the next five years. It was bursaries just like these that allowed me to succeed and finish my degree with the stability and support I needed to get where I am today.  It is with great pride and gratitude that I am able to do the same for the next generation of Black and Indigenous leaders."  

During her time at Saint Mary’s, Keisha studied Sociology and won an AUS Championship with the women’s volleyball team in 2010. She has since established an impactful career as an entrepreneur and consultant in Ontario and Nova Scotia. 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.

It is in this spirit of cultivating positive change that Keisha invests in Saint Mary’s students, and in turn strengthens our community and the world beyond.  

Read more about Keisha’s story in Maroon + White

Black joy on campus: Reflections from student Fisson Tibbo

Fisson Tibbo

Fisson Tibbo is a fourth-year student taking a double major in Psychology and in Social  Justice and Community Studies. She also holds three roles at Saint Mary’s: as a Residence Assistant; as a Residence Services Officer and as the Student Coordinator for the Racialized Student Academic Network (RSAN), which focuses on the academic wellbeing of BIPOC students.

During the lead-up to Black History/African Heritage Month, Tibbo took some time to reflect on what it means to be a Black leader at Saint Mary’s, and what Black joy looks like in the SMU community.

“As a Resident Assistant, I am a leader who can give representation for Black students, promote events and help foster the love we have for one another.” Tibbo shares. “I bring my experience and knowledge into my role, helping to raise awareness, share resources, initiate discussions and connect Black students from all different backgrounds to the best of my abilities.”

“As the Student Coordinator of RSAN at Saint Mary’s, creating a safe space is one of my priorities,” Tibbo explains. “Those spaces give us the opportunity to come together, to celebrate one another and celebrate the histories of our ancestors.”

Imani Tribe performs at International Night at SMU

When asked what Black joy at SMU means for Tibbo, she describes it as, “Seeing my people and having the community to walk into a space where I feel safe, seeing people coming together, playing music, dancing...even complimenting on each other's hair and understanding hair struggles,”

In addition to her roles at Saint Mary’s, Tibbo is also a member of the Imani Tribe, an African Christian acoustic musical group at SMU. The group recently took to the stage to perform at the 27th Annual International Night at SMU, an event that showcases and celebrates the incredible cultural diversity of the international community at Saint Mary’s.

Thank you Fisson for your thoughts on living and sharing Black joy, and your contributions to helping your community thrive!

Patrick Power Library & Student Affairs share literary display for African Heritage Month

Display at Patrick Power Library

In collaboration with the Patrick Power Library, Black Student Advisor* Bria Symonds compiled a selection of scholarly texts that celebrate Black joy and liberation as part of the university’s African Heritage Month initiatives.  

Bria Symonds

The literary display provides perspectives, education and information for a range of audiences. Drawing from her experience and education in social work, community engagement and activism to inform her selections, Symonds highlights three particular works as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in exploring, understanding and engaging throughout the month of February and beyond. 

Burnley “Rocky” Jones Revolutionary, by Burnley “Rocky” Jones 

Symonds describes the African Nova Scotian author Burnley “Rocky” Jones as “an amazing pillar in the African Nova Scotian community, who was engaged in everything from social justice and education to politics and community mobilization.” 

As noted by the publisher, the book “illuminates the Black experience in Nova Scotia, it explains the evolving nature of race relations and human rights in recent Canadian history, and it reveals the origins of the “remedial” approach to racial equality that is now practised by activists and governments.” Symonds calls it “a beneficial read for allies looking to inform and understand how we can work in ways that are community centred from a social justice lens.” 

Policing Black Lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present, Robyn Maynard 

Symonds describes this selection as a heavier but highly educative read. “This book has been an impactful scholarly piece in my educational journey and professional life,” she says. ”It looks at complex and difficult stories of what policing looks like in Canada and provides valuable context in understanding what anti-black racism is.”  

The publisher says “Maynard’s intersectional approach to anti-Black racism addresses the unique and understudied impacts of state violence as it is experienced by Black women, Black people with disabilities, as well as queer, trans, and undocumented Black communities.” With the heaviness of the topic, Symonds recommends taking time to process and reflect on the reading. 

Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, Charlene Carruthers 

To contrast her previous selection, Symonds highlights Unapologetic as “a lighter read that is excellent for folks who are trying to understand the true meaning of intersectionality.” The notion of intersectionality looks at critical race theory and law and how that plays into the way multiple oppressions may be experienced. 

Symonds recommends the book as an exploration of “how we can reduce and prevent anti-black racism, as well as providing inclusiveness to those that come from a queer background.” Symonds points to the university’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, citing Unapologetic as an excellent read to promote continued learning and engagement within the SMU community and beyond. 

These three reads, along with the full compilation of selected scholarly texts will be on display at the Patrick Power Library for the full month of February. The library also proudly houses The Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Heritage Collection in the University Archives. The Lynn Jones Collection is accessible at any time to researchers, the SMU community and wider community. Please contact or drop by the Archives. A limited selection of the collection has been digitized and hosted online.

*Note: At the time of the interview, Symonds held the title of Black Student Advisor. The position is currently vacant, however Black/African-descended student supports remain available through Student Affairs and Services. 

Celebrating African Heritage Month

February 1 marks the official start of African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, a time to celebrate the rich history, culture and contributions of people of African descent.

The 2023 theme, Seas of Struggle – African Peoples from Shore to Shore, honours the strength and determination of people of African descent from the shores of Africa to the shores of Nova Scotia and reflects the key role the sea has played in this history.

To help mark the month's significance, the tri-colour Pan-African flag will be raised in front of the McNally building. The red, black and green flag was created in 1920 to represent the people of the African Diaspora. 

At Saint Mary’s, in addition to events listed below, we will be celebrating BIPOC members of our community on @smuhuskies with Black student athlete profiles featured throughout the month, and within the February edition of the Saint Mary's Entrepreneurship Centre's newsletter, The Entrepreneurial Minute, with a spotlight on BIPOC entrepreneurs. Be sure to subscribe to SMUEC's monthly newsletter here to receive the next edition in your inbox at the end of the month!

Related stories

• The Turner Bursary for African Canadian and Indigenous Women

• Black joy on campus: Reflections from student Fisson Tibbo

• Huskies host Black Heritage Night basketball doubleheader

• Creating a Black Student Society at SMU: Reflections from inaugural president, Oratile Mogae 

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Patrick Power Library

Throughout February, the Patrick Power Library is featuring a collection of library resources for African Heritage Month, on display on the ground floor of the library. Book recommendations will be shared online throughout the month on our social channels (@smuhfxlibrary). All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card. Browse the full African Heritage Month collection online: bit.ly/pplDisplays

Related: Patrick Power Library & Student Affairs share literary display for African Heritage Month

Dynamic Rural Business Series

Monday, February 6
5–8 p.m.

The Black Business Initiative (BBI) and the Sobey School of Business are launching the Rural Black Businesses Series at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

The focus of this event is to bring together rural NS black entrepreneurs and create a space to discuss their challenges and their successes.

CCDI Webinar: Unlearning anti-Black racism

Thursday, February 9
2–3 p.m.

The conversation around anti-Black racism has mostly focused on strategies for eliminating racism within organizations and communal settings. However, tools and strategies can only go so far when we have been socially conditioned into anti-Blackness. In this webinar, we will explore how we can unlearn internalized anti-Black racism.

This webinar is presented by The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI).

Saint Mary's Huskies celebrate Black Heritage Month with community events

The Saint Mary's University Department of Athletics is proud to announce its celebration of Black Heritage Month this February, including our 'Black Heritage Day Basketball Doubleheader' on Saturday, February 11.

Throughout the month, Saint Mary's University will be highlighting some of our many incredible Black student-athletes whose impacts and achievements are important pieces of Huskies history, today, and every day.

On February 11, Saint Mary's will showcase a range of cultural events and activities at our women's and men's basketball games against crosstown rival Dalhousie Tigers.

Learn more

Movie night for Black students: Love and Basketball

Wednesday, February 15
Library Classroom
6:30 p.m.

Join us for a screening of the movie Love and Basketball. Hosted in collaboration with the Black Student Coordinator and Patrick Power Library. Snacks provided.

Kemet Udjat: An African Heritage Month film festival

March 13–15
5–8 p.m.
Scotiabank Conference Theatre (SB 201)

Register here 

Join us for three nights of film screenings, discussions and light refreshments. The films will all be shown in person, and the March 14 film will also be available for viewing online. More details to follow.

• Monday, March 13: Le Mythe de la femme noire (2023, 1 hr 34 mins), directed by Ayana O’Shun

• Tuesday, March 14: I Am Not Your Negro (2016, 1 hr 35 mins), directed by Raoul Peck
  (Note: This film will be available to view in person and online.)   

• Wednesday, March 15: Nowhere in Africa (2001, 2 hrs 21 mins), directed by Caroline Link

Presented by Dr. Jean-Blaise Samou, Francophone & Intercultural Studies, with the support of the Office of the Associate Vice-President Diversity & Excellence and the Alliance Française Halifax

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Resources

• Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Collection

• African Descended/Black Student Support

• African Heritage Month events in Halifax