National Indigenous History Month

National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It's a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples. June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This year, different themes will highlight specific aspects of Indigenous history, cultures and perspectives. These themes include Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people; Environment, traditional knowledge and territory; Children and youth; Languages, cultures and arts; and Reconciliation.

Saint Mary’s University acknowledges it is in Mi’kma’ki, on the traditional land of the Mi’kmaq Nation. The Mi’kmaq flag flies proudly on Saint Mary’s campus.

Follow @smuhalifax, @smu_studentlife and @SMUalumnihfx to see posts and alumni profiles shared throughout the month.

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Announcing the Interim Indigenous Student Advisor 

The Indigenous Student Advisor provides support to Saint Mary’s students.

Kyle Cook BA'23 (he/him) is the Interim Indigenous Student Advisor at Saint Mary's University. Originally from Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland), Kyle is a proud Mi'kmaw man and an active community member of Qalipu First Nation. He is a graduate of Saint Mary's University, BA'23, with a double major in Criminology and Social Justice/Community Studies.

Kyle can be contacted via email at indigenous.advisor@smu.ca or in person at Burke 114.

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Indigenous Student Ambassador

New students coming to Saint Mary’s can meet with Kaylee Denny, Indigenous Student Ambassador with Recruitment and Marketing.

Kaylee (she/her) is a second-year Indigenous student at Saint Mary’s, pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology. She grew up on the beautiful island of Unama’ki and lives in a Mi’kmaw community called Eskasoni.

Contact Kaylee isa@smu.ca or book a virtual meeting.

Learn more about Indigenous Student Supports at Saint Mary’s

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Visit the Patrick Power Library to browse the National Indigenous History Month collection

Patrick Power Library

The Patrick Power Library is featuring a collection of library resources for National Indigenous History 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, or accessed online using your SMU email and password.  

Browse the full National Indigenous History Month collection online.

Also, check out the library’s Indigenous Studies guide, with more book recommendations, suggested journals, databases, government information, and other resources.

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Reconciliation: Sisters on the path

Thursday, June 15
2–3 p.m.

This webinar for faculty and staff brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices to reflect on what reconciliation means to them on a personal, organizational, community, and national level and how to best forge a path forward together.

Presented by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. Faculty and staff can register here (select Employer Partner to register for free).

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Back to Breath

Friday, June 30
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
CLARI, Atrium 340

Join Kyle Cook, Interim Indigenous Student Advisor, for a guided breathwork session open to the Indigenous community and non-Indigenous allies alike.

The session will be centred in reflection, incorporating meditation strategies, and exploring the connection and consciousness of place and language. In furthering our commitment to truth and reconciliation, we will be unpacking words like Pjila'si and how they resonate with our lived experiences.

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Related content

• Indigenous community at SMU

• Video: Indigenous Student Advisor Kyle Cook, on National Indigenous Peoples Day

• The Turner Bursary for African Canadian and Indigenous Women

• Creating opportunities for Indigenous girls in sport

• National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People

• Celebrating Mi'kmaq History Month at Saint Mary's

A guide for faculty and staff: five ways to support institutional accessibility

May 28-June 3 marks National Accessibility Week; an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions and leadership of Canadians with disabilities and highlight the work of people, organizations and communities that are removing barriers. At Saint Mary’s, the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (formerly the Fred Smithers Centre for Students with Disabilities) is a leader in institutional student accessibility.

This year, the theme for National AccessAbility Week is “Disability Inclusion: From Possibilities to Practice”. As part of our Accessibility Week initiatives, we have developed a guide with five easy steps that faculty and staff can incorporate into their practice to help enhance learner accessibility at SMU.

“With the evolving landscape of accessibility in learning, it is crucial that we take a user-centered approach to modernizing our offerings,” says Kate McHugh, Manager, Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (FSCSA). “It is also imperative that we equip those on the frontlines of student education and care with knowledge and resources to put our best foot forward in accessibility and accommodation.”

Below are five steps for faculty and staff that can help enhance accessibility across campus.

1.     Familiarize yourself with the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility

We are a unique team comprised of two accessibility advisors, an education employment advisor, two exam accommodation administrators, several part-time exam and testing invigilators, an accessibility resource assistant and the FSCSA manager. Many on our team experience some form of disability so our varied experiences paired with our cumulative training and backgrounds provide a unique and well-rounded insight into supporting students who experience disability.

Within the scope of FSCSA, we work directly with students in supporting their academic journey, provide various assistive technologies, employment skills and future readiness, access to grants, educational materials and services, exam and testing accommodations and more.

We also work with stakeholders across Saint Mary’s to raise our level of accessibility pan-campus and enhance the experience for all within the SMU community who experience disability. Our efforts extend beyond the SMU walls and into the broader national institutional community. Members from the FSCSA team recently represented Saint Mary’s at the Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS) to present on supporting adaptive exam and testing accommodations in unprecedented circumstances.

2. Understand what is included in the scope of disability

While traditional or commercialized perceptions of disability fixate on mobility impairments, disability covers a wide range of reduced or impaired functions that can present in visible and/or invisible ways and be on a short or long-term basis. Some common disabilities that exist within the institutional landscape include but are not limited to mental illness, learning disability, ADD/ADHD, hearing impairment, visual impairment, mobility impairment, medical condition and autism spectrum disorder. Students registered with the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility have provided both a detailed application and supporting medical documentation.

The FSCSA provides personalized support for each student based on their individual needs. Since disability can present itself in unique ways for each student, it is of the utmost importance to offer flexibility, options, and customized plans of action for each student. The FSCSA team, and the students it supports, rely on the flexibility and consideration of staff and faculty to achieve an inclusive learning environment that is accessible to all.

3. Take time to evaluate inclusivity

Whether in the classroom, hosting an event, preparing content, developing visual supports, or conducting assessments, there are quick considerations that can help ensure an accessible and inclusive environment. Below are some considerations:

• Work with university resources like the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility, the Learning Studio and department communications staff to develop accessible course materials, documents and presentations, visual and graphic components, and more.

• When hosting an event or gathering, evaluate physical access of a space, including entrance and exit points of the building and room, accessible seating and accessible washrooms.

• Consider offering a virtual alternative for those unable to attend in person.

• Use inclusive, person-first language. Saint Mary’s provides guidance on inclusive language within the Saint Mary’s Style Guide.

• Add information on disability and accommodation to your course syllabus. Here’s a boilerplate you can copy/paste:
  “If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please ask The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility to submit your accommodations to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. The Fred Smithers Centre determines accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on requesting accommodations is located on the Fred Smithers Centre’s website. Contact The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (902)420-5452 or email fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca for further assistance.”

4. Refer students to the FSCSA as needed

In some instances, a student may not be registered with the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility for whatever reason but may confide in a staff or faculty member about experiencing a disability. It is important to maintain trust and confidentiality, so please do not seek out FSCSA accommodations on their behalf. Instead, help them feel validated in their experience and provide them with information about SMU accessibility and accommodation to help them make an informed decision on whether to register with the FSCSA.

5. Keep learning

Where capacity permits, take some time to check out additional learning resources. Below are some great options:

• Saint Mary’s Learning Studio – Academic Accommodation resources (including accessible templates for slide decks, PDFs and more!).

• Atlantic OER Pressbooks Network – Accessible Teaching & Learning FAQ

• Atlantic OER Pressbooks Network - Accessible Strategies for Students With Disabilities

• Government of Canada – Inclusive Language Considerations

• Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission – Duty to Accommodate

The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility team is happy to answer questions, offer guidance and provide resources for faculty and staff, in our shared effort to enhance accessibility for learners. Reach out by phone (902)420-5452 or email fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca, or stop by the offices in the Student Centre, 3rd floor, room 309.

Student perspective: experiencing disability and enhancing accessibility

Madison (Maddy) Brophy is a fourth-year student majoring in English and minoring in Psychology at Saint Mary’s. She also lives with an invisible disability—epilepsy—which presents in the form of grand mal or tonic-clonic seizures.

Maddy Brophy, fourth-year student

As someone who experiences disability, Brophy has the right to certain academic accommodations, but she almost didn’t register with the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility after starting at Saint Mary’s due to the invisible nature of her disability.

“I had to get over my own misconceptions and barriers of what disability means,” explains Brophy. “I was diminishing my own experience because I didn’t feel like my disability was enough to warrant accommodation.”

Brophy’s academic experience became unpredictable due to her epilepsy. Seizure flare-ups and recovery medication can often leave her forgetful, disoriented and extremely fatigued, making it difficult to maintain academic consistency at times. Eventually, Brophy registered with the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (FSCSA) and was immediately put at ease.

“There were so many aspects of experiencing disability and suffering in silence that I had never considered,” notes Brophy. “The FSCSA team helped me feel validated in my experience and not only taught me about my rights but also taught me how to advocate for myself and my needs.”

“Accessing the accommodations available as a student with a disability has been of paramount importance to my university career,” describes Brophy, whose academic experience greatly improved with the support of the FSCSA. “It has made me realize how crucial institutional accessibility is to so many.”

With an ignited passion for student accessibility, Brophy recently secured a role with Student Affairs and Services (SAAS) as a Communications Assistant, supporting the development of student-centric communications with an emphasis on enhancing the digital accessibility of content. Working jointly with Communications and the Fred Smithers Centre, Brophy will spend the summer auditing SAAS web pages, updating content and making recommendations to raise the level of accessibility to meet or surpass Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

“There are so many barriers faced by people who experience disability,” shares Brophy. “I’m excited to be on a team that works to reduce those barriers and make our little corner of higher education more accessible to all.”

In reflecting on her own journey as a student with a disability, Brophy has an important message to share for current and future students. “The supports are here for YOU. Your experience is valid and there is no shame in asking for the support that SMU has made available for students who experience disability.”

To learn more about student accessibility and accommodations, visit The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility. 

Ramadan in Unity brings SMU Muslim community together

Students at Ramadan in Unity at Saint Mary’s

Ramadan, one of the holiest months of the Islamic calendar, began on March 22. It is marked by compulsory acts guided by the five pillars: faith, prayer, charity, fasting and making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Those taking part in Ramadan participate in daily fasting during daylight hours, having one meal, Suhoor, before the sun rises and one meal, Iftar, after the sun sets. Prayer also takes place five times a day during the month-long observance.

“Here at Saint Mary’s, we have a diverse community of learners, faculty and staff,” notes Lynn Cashen Basso, Assistant Director, Student Culture and Experience, Student Affairs and Services (SAAS). “Through various initiatives, we strive to support an inclusive, safe and welcoming environment for all.”

Iftar kits were prepared by the Student Success Centre and SMUSA Community Food Room

This year, SAAS undertook several initiatives to support those within the SMU community who were observing the holy month of Ramadan. “It is important to create opportunities for open and inclusive dialogue that reinforces our commitment to fostering a community that is based on respect and belonging,” elaborates Cashen Basso.

Led by the division of Student Culture and Experience, SAAS, in collaboration with both the Saint Mary’s Muslim Students Association and Saint Mary’s Students Association (SMUSA), the university coordinated the creation of new guidelines for the multi-faith space where students could step away for prayer throughout the day without having to leave campus with extended hours for Ramadan.

The Community Food Room, a shared initiative with SAAS and SMUSA, handed out 266 Iftar kits over five distribution days to support those breaking fast at sundown. Most notably, the International Student Centre collaborated with the Saint Mary’s University Muslim Society to host the inaugural Ramadan in Unity event.

“To have the opportunity to openly acknowledge Ramadan at Saint Mary’s is extremely meaningful,” explains Ammar Abdul Shakoor, President, Muslim Students Association. “This ensures that Muslim students feel welcomed and know they have a safe space on campus.”

The event was open to members of the Saint Mary’s—and broader Halifax—Muslim community, as well as non-Muslim students across the city. “We wanted an opportunity to share our holy month and its significance in Islam with our peers,” Shakoor elaborates. “Our goal was simply to unite and come together as one in a welcoming environment, which is why we called the event, Ramadan in Unity.”

Ramadan in Unity boasted special guest speakers, SMU President, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, the Ummah Masque Imam, Abduallah Yousri, community leader, advocate and local Imam Mohammed Yaffa, and SMUSA Vice-President of Events, Toky Tajwar.

“Religion and faith are of paramount importance to many at Saint Mary’s,” describes President Summerby-Murray. “Supporting our students, faculty and staff in this way reinforces our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive academic environment and allows us opportunities to learn from each other and broaden understandings that go beyond our own lived experiences.”

To learn more about Ramadan, visit Islamic Relief Canada.

Nova Scotia wildfires: support and information

Dear SMU community,

This is a difficult time for the thousands of people who have been displaced by the ongoing wildfires in Tantallon, Shelburne and the surrounding areas.

We are all very concerned for those affected, especially members of our faculty, staff and student body, and our alumni community. Please know that the Saint Mary’s community is here to help however we can.

Below are some links to resources that may help at this time:

For impacted faculty and staff

• Faculty and staff members are encouraged to make use of the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which offers an array of supports. 

• There is also specific assistance available to SMUFU members; details can be found on the website.

• A reminder that hotelling workstations are available on campus for anyone needing to work on premises. You can find details and book a space here: www.smu.ca/about/facilities-finance-admin.html. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Angela Dunn angela.dunn@smu.ca or facilities.management@smu.ca.

• Any faculty or staff who have been impacted by the fires can access compassionate leave for APC staff, or special leave for unionized staff as per respective collective agreements. These special leaves were created specifically to help faculty and staff dealing with emergency situations. If you have questions about this, please contact your supervisor, chair or hr@smu.ca.

Help for students

• A wide range of student supports can be found at www.smu.ca/supports. This is being communicated widely via our main social media channels (@SMUHalifax).

• Those needing more specific assistance may contact student.services@smu.ca. 

Shower facilities at the Homburg Centre

• Athletics and Recreation has advised that anyone impacted by the fires is welcome to use the shower facilities at the Homburg Centre. Please just come to the front desk for assistance.

(NEW) Temporary emergency accommodations

• The Housing & Conference Services team is making free temporary, emergency accommodations available in Loyola South and Vanier on a first-come, first-served basis to any faculty, staff or students who have been displaced. Please contact conference.services@smu.ca or call 902-420-5055 for information and assistance. For hours of operation for various food services on campus, visit smuca.campusdish.com.

In light of these stressful circumstances, faculty are asked to consider leniency where possible for affected students, and I encourage all to extend compassion to our colleagues in the coming days.

We will continue to monitor the situation, and if we have any updates to provide, we will do so via mass email or social media on our @smuhalifax channels. You can also visit the Halifax Fire and Emergency Management website for ongoing updates and important information about transit, comfort centres and more: www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/fires-tantallon-hammonds-plains

Please take care and stay safe.

Rob Summerby-Murray
President and Vice-Chancellor 

Construction of temporary Huskies stadium seating

Work began this week on the construction of temporary stadium seating in preparation for the CFL Touchdown Atlantic game that will be held on campus on July 29, 2023.

This work is expected to run from May 10 until May 24. During this time, there may be some noise and activity associated with the construction. Additionally, the Homburg members’ parking lot (see 9 on Campus Map below) will be closed to vehicle and foot traffic while construction is completed.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we prepare for this very exciting event at Saint Mary’s. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Greg Knight, Assistant Director, Athletics & Recreation (greg.knight@smu.ca) or Janelle McNulty, Director, Quality Initiatives & Transformation (janelle.mcnulty@smu.ca).

Survivor Love Letters: A show of support in honour of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative team (Left to right, top to bottom): Dee Dooley, Sally Oppong, Jordyn Monaghan, Krystal Lowe, Olivia Landy

April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time for communities to come together to talk openly about sexual assault, increase knowledge and awareness, and help to make survivors feel acknowledged and supported.

As part of the annual awareness campaign, the Saint Mary’s Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative (SVPI) participated in a movement called “Survivor Love Letters”.

The initiative was started by artist and survivor, Tani Ikeda, who has become a well-known spokesperson for the survivor community. In 2012, Ikeda penned a letter to her younger self that closed with the words, “This is my survivor love letter.” From there, a letter-writing campaign rippled through survivor and ally communities.

This year, the SVPI encouraged members of the SMU community to pen similar letters to survivors sharing their heartfelt messages of support and validation. Faculty, staff and students submitted anonymous messages which were then posted around campus to demonstrate support and help start open conversations.

“We wanted to engage in the Survivor Love Letters movement at SMU to foster a sense of community while letting survivors know that they are not alone and that they are believed,” explains Krystal Lowe, Coordinator, Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative. “By sharing these letters and talking openly about sexual violence, we help create survivor-centered resources and reinforce messages of resilience, resistance and hope that can be accessed all throughout the year”

The Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative, under the Sexual Violence Support Centre (SVSC) is a team of students who are passionate about the education and prevention of sexual violence at Saint Mary’s and beyond. “Creating awareness at an institutional level is crucial,” explains Dee Dooley, Sexual Violence Advisor, SVSC. “Campaigns like Sexual Assault Awareness Month and support initiatives like Survivor Love Letters help bring these issues to light and improve perceptions that can lead to a shift in cultural attitudes towards sexual violence.”

The SVPI received overwhelming support in the Survivor Love Letters movement. “The community engagement throughout this initiative has highlighted how much power there is in our collective voice,” states Lowe. “It honours survivors in the community and emphasizes the importance of sharing experiences in a way that lets survivors empathize with one another and realize that they are not alone.”

The letters resounded with expressions of affirmation that survivors are valid, loved, worthy and believed. “Regardless of what happened, your experience, emotions, and trauma are valid,” shares one anonymous author. “Our experiences do not define us,” writes another author. “Our voices matter.” The letters will be made available for viewing through the Sexual Violence Support Centre.

The Sexual Violence Support Centre at Saint Mary’s provides support, learning resources and events for students.

Saint Mary’s African Student Society brings back African Night

Students celebrated culture and heritage at African Night

Amid COVID-19 and a virtual university experience, the Saint Mary’s African Student Society (SMASS) noted that African-descended students, like so many, were feeling lonely and disconnected. As Saint Mary’s returned to an in-person environment, the African Student Society wanted to bring back the experience of African Night.

“Having this event back at Saint Mary’s was so meaningful for us,” shares Holly Kanyamunyu, Creative Director/Social Media Executive, Saint Mary’s African Student Society (SMASS). “It evoked such a sense of nostalgia for home and reminded everyone of the good times and great sense of community we can have here.”

African Night was a collaboration between SMASS and the Dalhousie African Student Association (DASA) that had many supporters across Saint Mary’s to help bring the event back to life. Notable contributors included the International Student Centre and Residence Life from Student Affairs and Services (SAAS), the Department of Social Justice and Community Studies, the Sobey School of Business, the Saint Mary’s Students Association (SMUSA) and SMU Alumni.

“It is so important that Saint Mary’s continues to support events like these,” explains Ysaac Rodriguez, Manager, International Student Centre, SAAS. “It helps students feel connected and at home here while sharing and celebrating where they come from.”

The event focused on creating an opportunity for African and African-descended students to connect in the diaspora and share their cultures together. “This year, our goal was to reestablish an interconnected community for our students,” explains Aba Owusu-Biney, Vice-President, SMASS. Starting with a vibrant red-carpet welcome, guests made their entrance in a colourful array of traditional and African-inspired attire. “Fashion is a big part of how we express ourselves,” describes Owusu-Biney. “It represents many different traditions and cultures, so having the event centered around fashion really set the stage for the entire night.”

The more than 250 attendees were fully immersed into a Sub-Saharan African experience with cultural performances in song, dance, poetry, Nigerian inspired cuisine and a show-stopping fashion show, all incorporating local, Black-owned businesses from Halifax.

“African Night is not just an event for Africans but an event for everyone,” says Sally Oppong, 4th year student and former SMASS president. “Having such a diverse group of people come together to celebrate, share and learn felt like bringing a piece of home to the new community I’ve found myself in--merging my identities of an African woman, a SMU student and a temporary Canadian resident.”

Saint Mary’s is a dynamic campus with roughly 30% of students coming from outside of Canada. “Cultural events and initiatives like these are important in fostering social connections and engagement, which enhance the student experience and academic success,” states Lynn Cashen Basso, Assistant Director, Student Culture and Experience, SAAS. “African Night gave students an incredibly valuable opportunity to feel a stronger sense of community here at SMU and to extend their network of support with folks from Dalhousie and across Halifax.”

SMASS wishes to thank their co-hosts, DASA, along with the sponsors, vendors and performers for their respective contributions towards African Night. “We are thrilled to have restored African Night after several years on hiatus,” shares Owusu-Biney. “We wanted to establish a new legacy for African students to support their well-being and success through connectedness. We look forward to seeing future SMASS executives carry on the revived tradition.”

For more information on SMASS, African descended/Black student events and supports, visit the African Descended/Black Student supports page.

2023 poetry and fiction prizes announced

The Department of English Language and Literature is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Joyce Marshall Hsia Memorial Poetry Prize and Margó Takacs Marshall Prize for Excellence in Short Story Writing.

First place in the short fiction category goes to Jaya Joshi, an English major, for a wistfully lyrical story about the afterlife. Melissa Dalley, an Anthropology major, took first prize in the poetry category for a sequence of connected poems on the themes of loss and grief, and fourth prize in the short story contest.

The Awards Committee reviewed a strong pool of entries this year, in both the poetry and fiction categories, says Dr. Luke Hathaway. Submissions included spoken/sung and written pieces, and work in a dizzying array of genres: “contemplative lyrics, mythopoeic epyllia, speculative fictions, small-town dramas...we had it al!”.

Here is the full list of winners:  

Joyce Marshall Hsia Memorial Poetry Prize

• First prize – ‘Die Young’ and others, by Melissa Dalley; majoring in Anthropology; minors in Biology and Ancient Studies

• Second prize – ‘Oviparous’, by Capitu Petersen; Anthropology major; minor in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Forensic Sciences certificate

• Third prize – ‘My Biggest Fears’, by Connor Hattie; English major; Psychology minor  

• Honourable mention – ‘Salamander’ by Ryan Sanderson; English major; Creative Writing minor

Margó Takacs Marshall Prize for Excellence in Short Story Writing

• First prize – ‘The Exit Interview’, by Jaya Joshi; English major; French minor  

• Second prize – ‘Don’t Stay Too Long’, by Andrew Stilwell; English major  

• Third prize – ‘The Place We Can Never Get Back To’, by Melanie Hattie; Anthropology major  

• Fourth prize – ‘The Delay’, by Melissa Dalley; Anthropology major; minors in Biology and Ancient Studies  

The judges would like to extend their gratitude to all students who submitted their work, and to the sponsors of these awards. The annual creative writing contests are open to any student currently enrolled at Saint Mary’s University. Next year’s deadline for submissions will be in March 2024. Some of the previous winners have gone on to become nationally celebrated writers, such as Sue Goyette, Jenny Haysom, Jill MacLean and Danny Jacobs.

President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray has been appointed Chair, Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU)

Halifax, N.S. – Dr. Robert (Rob) Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-chancellor Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, N.S., has been appointed Chair, Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU).

Dr. Summerby-Murray will serve a two-year term as Chair, effective immediately.

In addition to Dr. Summerby-Murray, AAU Council (Presidents) appointed the following to the AAU Executive Committee:

• Dr. Denis Prud’homme, Recteur, Université de Moncton, Vice-chair 

• Dr. Paul Mazerolle, President, University of New Brunswick

• Dr. Greg Keefe, Interim President, University of Prince Edward Island

• Dr. Neil Bose, President Pro Tempore, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador

• Dr. Andy Hakin, President, St. Francis Xavier University

• Dr. Peggy Shannon, President, NSCAD University

Upon his appointment, Dr. Summerby-Murray, noted that the core values of the region’s universities are centred upon research and innovation, student success, social mobility, community engagement, leadership, and accountability.

“These core values are central to the contribution of strong public universities to regional prosperity and social and cultural development,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray.

“Ensuring our campuses are innovative, accessible, safe, secure and welcoming to all students is fundamental to making Atlantic Canada an education destination, locally, nationally and internationally,” he said. An important continuing agenda item for the AAU will be the fostering of its positive working relationship with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to facilitate the efficient processing of international student visa applicants accepted by our universities and to ensure alignment between immigration policies and the social and economic growth aspirations of Atlantic Canada.

“Universities play a significant role in regional population growth by attracting, educating, and helping retain international students in communities across Atlantic Canada. We will continue to work collaboratively and cooperatively with our provincial and municipal governments to create affordable student housing on and off campus as well as reliable and efficient public transit systems,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray.

He also noted that, “our university leaders know that improving access to healthcare is a top priority for Atlantic Canadians. In addition to graduating thousands of students annually who have been educated and trained to work in all aspects of healthcare delivery, our institutions are also focused on promoting healthy and active lifestyles among our students, values that will remain with them, their families, and communities in which they reside into the future.” 

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) represents the interests of universities across the region, ensuring public visibility for the important role they play in preparing future leaders of our communities, in path-breaking research and innovation, and in contributing to the economic, cultural and social prosperity of life in Atlantic Canada.

Construction to affect access to Loyola Building, May 8-12

Contractors working with the university on the E&I Hub construction project will soon be laying new floor tile in the northeast lobby of Loyola Academic, which will temporarily impact how the space is accessed.

Please note the following:

• From May 8 – May 12, access from the Tim Hortons area to the northeast lobby (near the ATM) will be re-routed through side corridors. This area will be reopened as soon as the floor tile has been laid.

• Access through the northeast lobby doors will be maintained, but interior routing is impacted. There will be ample directional signage posted by the construction team to re-route foot traffic.

Thank you for your patience and understanding with these disruptions as Saint Mary’s moves forward with this exciting project.