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SMU Community

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Saint Mary’s Art Gallery spotlights two Halifax artists in dreamlike exhibition: Two Pansies

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Two Pansies is a vibrant, queer-themed art exhibition by emerging Halifax artists Autumn Star and Shay Donovan at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery (until December 7, 2025).

The show transforms the gallery into an immersive, dreamlike domestic space that explores what “home” means for queer people, featuring sculptures, paintings, and a film narrated by two pansy-headed alter egos. Built largely on-site, the installation invites visitors to sit, reflect, and inhabit a world of comfort, whimsy, and chosen family—blending playfulness, ecofeminism, and vulnerability in a celebration of identity and belonging.

Read/listen: What does a home for two pansies look like? (CBC Arts)

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Huskies Indigenous Heritage Weekend creates space for community in sport

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The SMU Huskies held a successful Indigenous Heritage Weekend in October during Mi’kmaq History Month, celebrating Indigenous contributions to athletics with a full lineup of home games. Teams showed support by playing the national anthem in Mi’kmaq and wearing “Every Child Matters” t-shirts to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The weekend also featured a puck drop by SMU Huskies hockey alum Erin Denny BSc’25.  

Ceremonial puck drop with Erin Denny during the women’s hockey game

Denny’s work as a champion of representation and belonging in hockey has been recognized by Hockey Nova Scotia with the Erin Denny Award and the Erin Denny Scholarship, which were launched earlier this year.  

Denny’s hockey journey began as a child, watching her older sister learn to skate in their community rink. Although the girls’ skate time wasn’t hockey-related, they did wear hockey gear, and Denny’s curiosity was piqued.  

“The first time I tried skating as a kid, I hated it,” Denny says. “It was full ‘get me off the ice’, tears, everything.” It wasn’t until the next year that Denny took to the ice again, and the rest is history. Denny became increasingly involved in hockey, both in her community of Eskasoni and beyond. As her passion for the sport grew, so did her vision.  

“When I was younger, my goal was to play in the NHL, and young me didn’t realize that that wasn’t a possibility because they didn’t have women’s hockey.  My next goal, after that, was to play on the women’s Olympic team, because that was the next biggest opportunity. This really motivated me to become the athlete I wanted to see—I wanted to be an Indigenous athlete playing at that level—to be a role model for girls in my community.”   

“I wanted to be an Indigenous athlete playing at that level—to be a role model for girls in my community.  ”
— Erin Denny BSc'25

Denny played for the SMU Huskies from 2021-2025

Reflecting on her time with the Huskies, Erin says, “Being part of the SMU Women’s Hockey team was an incredible way to make space for women and girls in hockey, as girls from my community could come out to games and watch me play on a university team with other women, who all looked different from me. An opportunity to ‘see her, be her.’” 

Initiatives like Indigenous Heritage Weekend and the Red Tape Movement are a vital elements when advocating for change, says Denny. Creating spaces dedicated to Indigenous athletes and their accomplishments creates pathways for the next generation to make sport more inclusive.  

“It makes a huge difference when you see someone that shares the same features as you,” says Denny. “To know they’re Indigenous, to know you share a community, and to see them succeeding has a real impact.”  

Want to get involved in supporting Denny’s vision? Stay tuned for more information on the SMU Huskies Red Tape Double Header at the end of November.

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Changing the game: how one sports business student is championing inclusion in sport

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Van sits in a power wheelchair with the Huskies field behind him

Van Bernard began his Bachelor of Commerce at Saint Mary’s in Fall 2025

Van Bernard has known what he wants to do since he was eight years old.

Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 2 as an infant, Van uses a power wheelchair to navigate daily life and support his vast athletic endeavours—participating in para-sports like power wheelchair soccer, sledge hockey and para sailing. He also coaches baseball.

Van’s love of sports began as a young child, when his father and his uncle—both lifelong hockey fans—competed over which of their respective teams would become Van’s favourite. Van’s uncle won, and he’s been a diehard Ottawa Senators fan since. As time went on, and as Van and his family began travelling for specialized medical treatment in Toronto, his love affair with sports evolved from a passion into a calling.

“I remember going to a Blue Jays game in Toronto, and I realized that sport instills a feeling of excitement like nothing else,” Van says. “I knew being a professional athlete wasn't how I envisioned my career as a person living with a disability and using a wheelchair. I knew I wasn’t going to be a professional NHL player, but it wasn't over for me. I knew I could still be in the sports world and combine my passion for relationship building with my love for athletics.”

Van holds up a Stutzle jersey at the Senators arena
“...sport instills a feeling of excitement like nothing else. I knew I could still be in the sports world and combine my passion for relationship building with my love for athletics.”
— Van Bernard

Van has already begun to carve a path that blends these passions. His dedication to disability advocacy in sport was recognized earlier this year when he received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. Looking ahead to his career, Van has identified an area of the sports industry that he is uniquely suited to address—para-athlete sponsorship—and he’s come to Saint Mary’s to gain the education he needs to start making waves in the industry.

Van in a gym with a volleyball in front of him

Van plans to use his Sports Business degree to work with para-athletes

“I've always wanted to manage the sponsorships of para-athletes,” he says. “I love them. They're people like me, and giving them an opportunity to be a pro, to be recognized, and to get more recognition from able-bodied people is something I’m passionate about—because these athletes are extremely talented, and often, nobody hears about them.”

The Sports Business major is a new specialization within the Bachelor of Commerce program at Saint Mary’s. It’s designed to give students like Van hands-on experience that prepares them to work in the world of athletics. The program is also unique in Atlantic Canada, helping to nurture Maritime talent right here at home. The timing of the new major was perfect for Van.

“One of the main reasons I came to Saint Mary’s was the sports business program. I was looking at universities outside of Atlantic Canada because I knew this was what I wanted to do, and I was prepared to move to pursue the education I needed. The minute SMU announced that they were introducing a new major in sports business, I immediately applied. And when I got in, I was thrilled.”

“The minute SMU announced that they were introducing a new major in sports business, I immediately applied. And when I got in, I was thrilled.”

Offering courses in sports marketing, sports and sustainability, and sports law, the major combines classroom learning with experience-based projects to equip students to thrive in a fast-paced and in-demand industry. For Van, that education is an invaluable foundation to build the career of his dreams.

“I’ve done lots of advocacy work for disability rights,” Van says. “That’s my path, that’s what I want to do, and I’m continuing to do that work right here at Saint Mary’s.”

Van with a group of students and faculty

As one of the 2025 recipients of the prestigious Sobey National Innovator Scholarship, Van is part of the Sobey Scholars Network with fellow students, alumni and faculty (shown here).

Learn more about the Sports Business Program
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SMU Monster Fest explores diversity of monstrous topics

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Event info with monster character

Things are looking strangely monstrous around campus this week, as Saint Mary’s University hosts Nova Scotia’s first Monster Fest.

Since the dawn of humanity, people have been preoccupied with monsters and monstrosity. How many different monsters are out there in our imaginations and in reality? Why are we so fascinated by them? What do monsters reveal about us?

These are just a few of the questions Monster Fest 2025 is exploring this week in events across campus and at Halifax Central Library. Celebrating the rapidly expanding field of monster studies, the four-day international conference features academic panels with 50+ speakers, free horror film screenings, a Bazaar of the Bizarre and more. It culminates in a Monster Ball costume party on Hallowe’en night.

Two people in ornate costumes

Dr. Michele Byers and Dr. Lindsay Macumber in costumes created by NSCAD students at Monster Fest

The conference was developed by two professors in the Faculty of Arts who were inspired by the Festival of Monsters at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Lindsay Macumber teaches the popular “Monsters” course at Saint Mary’s, open to the public through our Arts for Everyone program. She had been preparing a panel of four speakers for this fall’s Santa Cruz event, including herself, a colleague and two SMU students.

“We were in the process of getting ready for that, and it just became apparent that it was no longer safe to travel to the United States,” the Study of Religion professor explained in a radio interview this week with CBC Information Morning. “The political situation in the United States is just untenable at the moment, particularly for any of our queer and racialized students. When we are responsible for their safety, it's not something we were equipped to do.”

Her colleague Dr. Michele Byers, coordinator of the Women and Gender Studies program, suggested that Saint Mary’s could host a sister festival for scholars across Canada and beyond. The idea was born, quickly receiving endorsement from the Santa Cruz festival.

“I think there's something really for everyone,” Byers said in the CBC interview. “We have a really broad range of topics, and I think it speaks to the fact that monsters and the monstrous kind of touch every part of life. They make their way to everything.”

Monster Fest lineup

The academic panels examine monstrosity’s significance across diverse lenses such as gender, race, sexuality, ability, religion and Indigeneity. Student and faculty panellists and delegates are here from universities across the Atlantic region and as far as Alberta and even the U.K., with most panels taking place in the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Halifax Central Library hosts two free public lectures and film screenings. Thursday’s keynote speaker is Dr. Novotny Lawrence, Director of the Black Film Centre and Archive at Indiana University, Bloomington. He’ll discuss Black horror with a focus on Nia DaCosta’s film Candyman (2021). Dr. Krista Collier-Jarvis of MSVU offered a “Too Ghoul for School” keynote, focusing on Indigenous horror via Mi’kmaq director Jeff Barnaby’s Rhymes for Young Ghouls.

Novotny Lawrence is a black man with a short beard

Dr. Novotny Lawrence

Krista Jarvis is an Indigenous woman with red hair. She wears a Blood Quantum necklace.

Dr. Krista Collier-Jarvis

The free films are Barnaby’s Blood Quantum, with Collier-Jarvis leading a panel discussion (Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.); and a 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with an introduction by Dr. Allyn Walker of SMU Criminology, a shadowcast performance by the SMU Drama Society and a Q&A organized by the SMU Pride Society (Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.).

Anita is an Indigenous woman. She wears a red dress and gloves.

DJ Anita LandBack

Friday’s highlights include a Coven/Community breakfast, a Dark Romance workshop led by SMU students Jodie Hamilton and Jade Newell, and an artist tour of TWO PANSIES: Autumn Star & Shay Donovan at the SMU Art Gallery. The Monster Ball, hosted by DJ Anita LandBack, follows a “Carrie’s prom” theme, with the SMU Drama Society performing pivotal numbers from their hit Carrie: The Musical. Another highlight at the Ball will be wearable art monster costumes created by students at NSCAD University.  

Monster Fest 2025 is supported by many partners and sponsors. Find the full event lineup, bios, lecture abstracts and more at smu.ca/monsterfest.

Related

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STARS Gold: Saint Mary’s earns national recognition for sustainability

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Powered by our people: A sustainability story by everyone at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s University has achieved a STARS Gold rating for sustainability. This is a national recognition that reflects years of work by students, faculty, staff and partners across campus.

Awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Saint Mary’s now joins a select group of universities around the world recognized for high performance in sustainability across academics, operations, planning and community engagement.

“This great accomplishment is a people story,” says Dr. Margaret McKee, Associate Professor of Management in the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. “Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, alumni and partners have contributed. This rating reflects their combined efforts over a number of years across all aspects of our campus.” 

What Gold looks like on campus

In the classroom: Saint Mary’s is recognized for its strength in sustainability-focused courses, research, and immersive learning.

In your hands: The SMU Community Garden keeps growing, led by students who are growing food, supporting pollinators, and connecting climate to community well-being.

In your cup: As a Certified Fair Trade Campus, Saint Mary’s supports ethical sourcing with every purchase: real impact, brewed daily.

Under your feet: The Trees of Saint Mary’s project has transformed the university into a living arboretum with over 100 species planted: shade, biodiversity and habitats rooted in over 30 years of care.

On the skyline: The Loyola Residence tower is the tallest integrated solar wall in North America — 22 storeys turning sunlight into clean energy every day.

On the wall: A three-storey living wall in the atrium just outside the Patrick Power Library cleans the air, regulates humidity, lowers heating costs, and brings nature into the heart of campus.

On two wheels: A self-service bike repair station, secure bike lockers and e-scooter and bike rentals on campus make it easier for students and staff to choose active, low-carbon transportation every day.

Along the shoreline: Through a partnership with TransCoastal Adaptations, Saint Mary’s students are restoring tidal wetlands, supporting habitat resilience and infrastructure.

On the water: Saint Mary’s researchers are empowering small-scale fishers and the ecosystems they depend on.

Around the world:  The Saint Mary’s Enactus team won the 2025 World Championship with community projects reducing plastic waste through Alaagi and improving food security through Square Roots.

“This Gold rating reflects years of hard work and thoughtful planning on how we build and care for the university, from major infrastructure upgrades to everyday sustainable choices,” says Dennis Gillis, Senior Director of Facilities Management. “You can see that commitment in the way we plan and operate our campus. Each project brings us closer to a more sustainable future.”

Faculty continue to add sustainability across programs, linking classroom learning to real-world challenges. Students analyze data, propose solutions and field-test their ideas.

Student leadership is at the heart of the Gold rating. Through entrepreneurship, policy advocacy, energy audits and waste reduction campaigns, students are leading by example and proving that small teams can drive big change.

“We’re proud of this achievement, but we’re not done,” says Dr. McKee. “To everyone who contributed by planting seeds, teaching, thinking outside the box and pushing for innovation — this achievement belongs to you.”

Bill Linton BComm'75 DComm'22 and his wife Marilynne Day-Linton made a generous gift to the Sobey School of Business and Saint Mary's University. Funds from The Linton Family Sustainability in Business Trust provided the preliminary funding for this project. 

The Gold rating is valid through 2028. The full STARS report provides a transparent breakdown of scores.

View the full STARS Gold report → Saint Mary's University | Scorecard | Institutions | STARS Reports

Sustainability at SMU
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Title changes reflect evolving role of library leadership at Saint Mary’s University

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Suzanne and Hansel stand together in a bright room

Suzanne van den Hoogen and Hansel Cook with the Patrick Power Library at Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce updates that acknowledge the essential function of the Patrick Power Library and its leadership.

The position of University Librarian is retitled Dean, University Library and Archives.

The new title clarifies the scope of the position, strengthens equity among academic leadership, enhances understanding of the role within and beyond our campus and aligns Saint Mary’s with peer institutions across the Atlantic region. Libraries are integral to the academic mission of universities and must be recognized as academic units. The role itself is both administrative and academic—comparable to that of a faculty dean—and contributes meaningfully to research, teaching and learning, and public engagement.

Suzanne van den Hoogen, who has served in this leadership role since 2018, will continue as Dean, University Library and Archives. With over 25 years of experience in academic libraries, Suzanne also serves as Chair of the Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries. Her leadership in academic integrity, copyright, and Indigenous matters has significantly enriched the university.

The position of Associate University Librarian, Strategy, Planning and Assessment is now Associate Dean, Library Strategy, Planning and Assessment.

Hansel Cook will continue as Associate Dean, Library Strategy, Planning and Assessment. His work in digital preservation and community engagement continues to elevate Saint Mary’s scholarly impact.

Did you know? The Patrick Power Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Find out more: Patrick Power Library 50th Anniversary.

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Woven stories - dream catchers honour Mi'kmaq culture at Saint Mary's

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Three men stand on a stair case, a dream catcher hangs to the right above them

Indigenous Student Advisor Kylar Johnson, Chief Wilbert Marshall and Isaiah Bernard stand under a dream catcher on SMU campus

The Mi’kmaq tradition of storytelling has long been a way of carrying culture, history and teachings across generations. At Saint Mary’s University, that same tradition is carried forward in two large dream catchers installed by son and father duo, Isaiah Bernard and Chief Wilbert Marshall of Potlotek First Nation.

More than art, the dream catchers are symbols of presence and visibility; threads of Mi’kmaq culture woven into the heart of campus.

“When I was a student here, I would see all these cultures represented, but I didn’t see my own,” describes former SMU student and former Indigenous Student Society president, Isaiah Bernard. “The university is on Mi’kmaq land, so we should be showcased within the campus. I brought the idea to the university President and to SMUSA (Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association), and they all agreed.”

Bernard’s father, Chief Marshall, taught him how to make dream catchers as a child, and they seemed like the perfect art form to display in prominent campus buildings.

“When the Europeans came, our people were annihilated and we lost everything, so we had to adopt a lot of our traditions from different tribes like out west in British Columbia,” explains Chief Marshall. “Everyone has their own spin on the story of the dream catcher.” The story is that a woman protects a spider spinning its web, and in thanks, that spider spins a web between her and the moon to ensnare bad thoughts and keep them from her.

“There are many different ways you can make a dream catcher; you can put three rings, or four, or even single rings. There are usually tassels on it, and on the weave, you can make different designs in the web itself,” shares Chief Marshall.

Marshall, Bernard and Johnson stand behind the dream catcher

Chief Marshall and Bernard built and installed the dream catchers in 2020

Looking up at the dream catcher from below

One of the dream catchers hangs in the lobby of the O’Donnell-Hennessey Student Centre, the other is in the Patrick Power Library

Working with repurposed crab trap pipes and biodegradable rope, the pair created large dream catchers with two rings. “We put a little dream catcher in the middle—you’ll see the braided string that’s on there. It’s got the four directional colours on there also. Everything was done completely by hand.”

On October 1 – Treaty Day – Isaiah Bernard and Chief Marshall returned to Saint Mary’s campus, alongside Indigenous Student Advisor Kylar Johnson, to unveil newly installed plaques commemorating the dream catchers.

A plaque tells the story of the dream catcher

A plaque commemorating the dream catcher installation

“When we brought the dream catchers to campus, the welding broke. We had to get that fixed, repaint it and let it dry, so we asked the university if we could leave it on campus and then web it on site,” recalls Bernard. “It was cool to make it on campus in front of a live crowd. It took us about four hours [to web and install] because people kept coming by to watch us and ask questions – it was really something!”

The dream catchers have been more than a pastime for Bernard and his father; they are a way to connect with family, community and culture. Their dream catchers are installed across Mi’kma’ki, including Glooscap and Membertou, and Chief Marshall has put on seminars to teach younger generations how to make them. Through sharing the craft, they are bringing visibility to Mi’kmaq traditions and reclaiming practices that were once at risk of being lost.

“People often forget that Mi’kmaq were the first people here. This is Mi’kmaq nation, from dusk ‘til dawn, before others got here and after they leave, this is our territory, our culture. We were the first ones,” exclaims Bernard. “It’s time they start honouring the first people here and showcasing Mi’kmaq culture. We have a rocky history, and not enough of that is taught,” he adds.

Chief Marshall reflects, “Now, we have Treaty education in schools, but people also need to learn about the hard truths of our history. You can’t mask that, it has to be talked about.”

“I hope [the dream catchers] inspire the community here to learn about the First Nations, learn about the community, about our history, most importantly, and about our Mi’kmaq people,” Bernard emphasizes.

Hear from Isaiah and Chief Marshall about their dream catcher project at Saint Mary’s.

October is Mi’kmaq History Month. Learn more here: Mi'kmaq History Month: Events and resources for the SMU Community

Indigenous Community at SMU
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Mi'kmaq History Month: Events and resources for the SMU Community

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October is Mi’kmaq History Month, a time to celebrate and learn about Mi’kmaq culture and heritage.

The theme for Mi’kmaw History Month 2025 is A’tukwemk aq A’tukowinu’k – Storytelling and Storytellers. “This theme celebrates the power of stories in Mi’kma’kik—stories shaped by the land and waters, carried through generations, and alive with laughter, teaching, and truth. Storytelling remains a living record of Mi’kmaw science, history, and values, connecting people to each other and to the ancestors who came before.” Learn more at mikmaqhistorymonth.ca.

October 1 is Treaty Day, which commemorates the treaties between the Mik’maq people of Nova Scotia—who have occupied the land for thousands of years—and the Crown. Learn more about Treaty Day here.

Saint Mary's University acknowledges that the university is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. Learn more.

Chief Wilbert Marshall, Isaiah Bernard, Indigenous Student Advisor Kylar Jonhson

The Mi’kmaq tradition of storytelling has long been a way of carrying culture, history and teachings across generations. At Saint Mary’s University, that same tradition is carried forward in two large dream catchers installed by son and father duo, former SMU student Isaiah Bernard and Chief Wilbert Marshall of Potlotek First Nation.

“The university is on Mi’kmaq land, so we should be showcased within the campus. I brought the idea to the university President and to SMUSA (Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association), and they all agreed.”

Bernard and Chief Marshall built and installed dream catchers on campus in 2020. On October 1 – Treaty Day – Isaiah Bernard and Chief Marshall returned to Saint Mary’s campus, alongside Indigenous Student Advisor Kylar Johnson, to unveil newly installed plaques commemorating the dream catchers.

Read more on SMU News.

Events

Sisters in Spirit Film Screening: The Body Remembers when the World Broke Open

Event poster

Tuesday October 7, 2025
6-8:30 p.m.
Atrium 101

Please join the Qomoti Centre and the Sexual Violence Support Centre to commemorate Sisters in Spirit Day with a Film Screening of The Body Remembers when the World Broke Open. The film follows two Indigenous women as they navigate the effects of Intimate Partner Violence. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.

Sisters in Spirit Day is a national day that honours and remembers Murdered and Missing Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. To learn more, please visit the Native Women's Association of Canada.

Too Ghoul for School: Colonial Gazing and Monstrosity in Rhymes for Young Ghouls

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
3:30 p.m.
Halifax Central Library

Part of SMU’s first Monster Fest, Dr. Krista Collier-Jarvis presents a talk on Rhymes for Young Ghouls, an Indigenous horror film about one Mi'kmaw girl's experience living beneath the colonial gaze and temporarily within the walls of the fictional St. D's residential school. Read the full session description here.

Blood Quantum Screening and Scholar-led Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6 p.m.
Halifax Central Library

A public-facing, free screening of Jeff Barnaby’s Blood Quantum and a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Krista Collier-Jarvis and led by Indigenous scholars and activists Fallen Matthews, Tiffany Morris and Dr. Margaret Robinson.

Find out more on the Monster Fest website.

Resources

Kylar with students in Qomuti space

Qomuti is an on-campus space designed by and for Indigenous students. Located in Loyola Academic Room 286, Qomuti (pronounced ho-mo-dee) is a Mi’kmaw word meaning “a place of safe haven.” This space was created through community consultation and is intended to be a welcoming home on campus for Indigenous students to gather, study, share, smudge, and feel rooted in culture and connection.

Visit Qomuti or meet with the Indigenous Student Advisor, Kylar Johnson. Find out more about the space and how to connect with Kylar at smu.ca/indigenous-community.

A display of artefacts in the library

Permanent Mi'kmaw Heritage Exhibit – Visit the Library to see Ta’n Etl-klo'tasik koqoey (a phrase meaning “where the items are kept or taken care of”), an exhibit celebrating the enduring legacy and culture of the Mi’kmaq people. This exhibit features a collection of Mi’kmaw cultural objects selected by community members, and is on loan from the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

The Patrick Power Library has a Mi'kmaq History Month collection available on campus or online. All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card or accessed online using your SMU email and password.

Other resources to support learning and reflection about Indigenous culture and experience include:

  • Red Dress Display: October 4 is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S), also called Sisters in Spirit Day. Red dresses hang in the library windows as a symbol of those who never returned home and to bring awareness to the ongoing violence against Indigenous communities. Learn more.

  • Indigenous Studies Research Guide – Your starting point for academic and community-based resources on Indigenous research topics, featuring suggested journals, search strategies, databases, government information and other resources.

  • SMU Theses on Mi’kmaw and Indigenous Research – Discover original research by Saint Mary’s University community members in the Institutional Repository.

  • Indigenous Peoples of North America Database – A digital archive covering the political, social, and cultural history of Indigenous Peoples from the sixteenth century into the twentieth century. Access is available through the Library.

  • Streaming Media Collections – Watch Indigenous films and documentaries through the NFB, CBC Curio, Films on Demand, Audio Cine and Criterion databases. Access is available through the Library.

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Saint Mary's University wins the Enactus World Cup!

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The Enactus Saint Mary’s team has captured the global championship at the 25th Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. Their 12-minute presentation on two student-run social enterprises—Alaagi and Square Roots—outperformed finalists from Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Germany. This victory marks the first world title for Saint Mary’s University, which competed against 28 national champion teams from around the globe.

Twenty-one students and staff from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre represented Team Canada. Co-Presidents Courtney Dingle and Sarah Wheeler, along with Gabe Martin BA’25, led the team through a year of groundbreaking work.

"The true win here isn't the trophy, it's the global proof that profit and purpose can coexist,” says Courtney Dingle. “We are constantly showing that our generation is ready to redefine what a successful business looks like. We're building enterprises that heal the planet."

Alaagi: Revolutionizing packaging with seaweed

Alaagi bio-plastic developed at Saint Mary’s

Alaagi is a revolutionary bio-plastic company aiming to disrupt the global packaging industry. The student-led venture has developed an eco-friendly and fully bio-degradable plastic wrap utilizing biopolymers sourced from seaweed.

Alaagi's innovation addresses the massive problem of single-use plastic pollution by offering a viable, compostable alternative. The team profiled Alaagi’s recent advancements to create an industry-standard film suitable for challenging applications like meat and seafood packaging. As part of the World Cup-winning presentation, the team highlighted the startup’s recent success at the Hult Prize Global Accelerator in London, UK. Alaagi was named one of the top 24 student start-ups in the world in the competition for $1 million in seed funding.

Square Roots: Turning food waste into access

Square Roots offers produce boxes to communities across Nova Scotia

Addressing dual problems of food waste and food insecurity, Square Roots purchases imperfect-looking surplus directly from local farmers and sells it at affordable prices to families in need, ensuring greater access to fresh, nutritious food for those facing economic hardship. Since its inception, the initiative has expanded across Nova Scotia and has diverted over a million pounds of food from landfills while empowering local community managers as entrepreneurs.

A win for sustainability, innovation, and Canada

"We are thrilled to celebrate the Enactus Saint Mary's team bringing home the World Cup to Canada!” said Catherine Fowler, President & CEO of Enactus Canada. “Square Roots is a leading example of how a social enterprise can grow and evolve, supporting sustainability in the community and beyond. We are also incredibly inspired by the team's innovation in single-use plastic alternatives with Alaagi™, showcasing the long-term impact of investing in early-stage projects. This win truly represents the strength of our teams and program in Canada, which we couldn't achieve without the incredible support of the faculty advisors, volunteers and donors."

This recognition, winning the Enactus World Cup, is a momentous achievement for Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia and Canada, showcasing student entrepreneurship, impact and innovation on the world stage.

Enactus Saint Mary’s represented Canada in the global competition

“This world championship is a powerful reminder of what our students are capable of achieving when creative minds come together to make great things happen,” says Michael Khan, Saint Mary’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “Their innovation, resilience and drive are changing communities here in Nova Scotia, while inspiring solutions for global challenges. The entire Saint Mary’s community are immensely proud of them.”

Saint Mary's commitment to entrepreneurship, championed by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, drives this success. The university cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset, focused on problem-solving, resilience and creativity across all faculties, ensuring students like those behind Alaagi and Square Roots have the holistic support to achieve global impact.

"This global title is validation that our students aren't just learning about business, they are actively building world-class, scalable solutions for major global problems," says Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. "To see Alaagi, fresh off being named a Top 24 startup at the Hult Prize in London, combined with the proven impact of Square Roots, recognized at the international level, is a source of immense pride. These students are true change makers."

Watch the winning presentation:

Enactus Saint Mary's
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SMU Community Food Room recognized for their innovation

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The SMU Community Food Room Team was pleased to attend Feed Nova Scotia's Annual Day of Sharing on September 19. The Food Room team was invited to present on their volunteer program, and took advantage of opportunities to network and learn from fellow Feed Nova Scotia Member Agencies. The day culminated with the first-ever Feed Nova Scotia Member Awards, and the SMU Community Food Room was recognized with the Food of the Future: Innovation Award.

This award recognizes an agency that "demonstrates creativity, adaptability, and forward thinking in everything they do.  From developing fresh approaches and implementing unique solutions, they aren’t afraid to question conventional ways of doing things and open the door to new opportunities and new impact. Their innovative spirit inspires progress and sets an example for how agencies can lead change in meaningful and practical ways.

The SMU Community Food Room was recognized for showing how food banks can innovate through action. From meeting clients where they are, offering food pick-up locations across campus, using social media to connect on platforms students already use, and creating new programs like the Tuesday Breakfast Club and Iftar Kits during Ramadan — the Food Room team is always looking to improve. The SMU Community Food Room continues to innovate as it adapts and tries new approaches to serve its community's unique needs, demonstrating creativity, responsiveness and a deep commitment to supporting its users.

To learn more about the SMU Community Food Room, get involved, book an appointment, please visit their website: Community Food Room or email food.room@smu.ca.

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Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Saint Mary’s

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Orange background with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a feather

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - a day to recognize and reflect on the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities, to honour those who have been affected by this injustice, and to ensure public commemoration of this history as a vital part of the reconciliation process.

an orange tshirt with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation emblem

Orange shirts available at the Campus Store

In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, administrative offices will be closed and there will be no classes or labs on Tuesday, September 30. The Patrick Power Library will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day , which began in 2013 to honour Indigenous children forced to leave their families to attend residential schools.

Orange t-shirts are available for purchase at the Campus Store, with proceeds going to the Mikmawey Debert Cultural Centre. Members of the SMU community are encouraged to wear their orange shirts to campus on Monday, September 29, ahead of the September 30 closure.

Events on campus

Smudging Ceremony

September 25, 2025
1:30 p.m.
The Quad

All members of the SMU community are invited to an outdoor smudging ceremony in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Smudging is a cultural ceremony practised by a wide variety of Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. Although practices differ, smudging is used for medicinal and practical purposes as well as for spiritual ceremonies. The practice generally involves prayer and the burning of sacred medicines, such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage and tobacco.

Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later

Image of a young and old person playing traditional drums with text on the image

NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 22-26

September 25, 2025
2 p.m.
CLARI (Atrium 340)

Join members of the SMU community for a Zoom event hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba. This session will reflect on the decade which has passed since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action were published, including how many of the Calls have been fulfilled and what is still holding back progress. It will feature TRC Commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson, founding Executive Director of the NCTR Ry Moran, and will be moderated by author Connie Walker.

The NCTR is hosting daily Lunch and Learn webinars for Truth and Reconciliation Week from September 22-26. Topics include discussions with experts and community members about the Residential School system, ground searches and corporate reconciliation efforts. All sessions will have simultaneous English, French and ASL interpretation. See all webinar events here.

Woven Together

September 25, 2025
7 p.m.
Loyola Academic 188

Join the Residence Life Multicultural Committee for an evening of friendship bracelet making in recognition of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Materials will be provided.

Reconciliation, what does it mean to you?

September 29, 2025
10 a.m.
Loyola Colonnade

Stop by the Loyola Colonnade (between Tim Horton’s and the C Store) and share what reconciliation means to you. The Residence Life Multicultural Committee will display input from the SMU community on a display board of mini orange t-shirts.

Event info with drawn images of friendship bracelets
NDTR call to action: What does reconciliation look like in the classroom? On campus?

Qomuti - Indigenous student space opens for students

Kylar welcomes people to the Qomuti student space

Kylar Johnson, Indigenous Student Advisor, announced the naming of the student space in June 2025

Located in Loyola Academic Room 286, Qomuti (pronounced ho-mo-dee) is a Mi’kmaw word meaning “a place of safe haven.” This space was created through community consultation and is intended to be a welcoming home on campus for Indigenous students to gather, study, share, smudge, and feel rooted in culture and connection.

The Indigenous Student Space was designed in consultation with students and built with intention: a space where Indigenous learners can study, share, smudge without barriers and feel seen. While the room has quietly served students since fall 2024, the June 2025 naming ceremony marked a formal celebration of what it has already come to represent: a sense of home.

Kylar stands in front of a colourful art piece

Kylar Johnson unveils the plaque for The Seven Sacred Teachings art piece by Loretta Gould

The space includes a vibrant installation within the Indigenous Student Space by Mi’kmaw artist Loretta Gould. Titled “The Seven Sacred Teachings”, the work was selected by Indigenous students from a collection of options. Depicting seven Indigenous figures standing in unity beneath a glowing sunset, each figure wears distinct regalia with animal imagery representing one of the Seven Sacred Teachings: love; respect; courage; honesty; wisdom; humility; and truth. The installation’s mosaic-like composition and vibrant colour palette capture themes of community, identity, and continuity. For the students who chose it, it serves not only as a visual centrepiece but also as a source of inspiration and reflection. Learn more about the space.

Community events and resources

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre

An Indigenous elder woman with Prof. Raymond Sewell at the MNFC

September 30, 2025
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, 2021 Brunswick Street, Halifax

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada. The day recognizes the legacy of the Residential “school” system, the missing children, the families left behind, and the intergenerational impacts of this shared history.

Programs across the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre will have tables in the Joan Glode Room with resources and hands-on activities geared towards taking reconciliatory action at the neighbourhood level.

Begin or continue your Reconciliation journey by attending Truth & Reconciliation: Every Day Action sessions throughout the Fall Program. Additionally, check out their Reconciliation Resources page for more information.

"The Gifts We Carry": Youth Gathering for Teachers & Students

An arena filled with youth in orange tshirts

NCTR 2024 Youth Empowerment event

Presented by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this 2-hour live educational gathering is a highlight of NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week programming, “Me’j Tekweyulkul Kina’matnewe’l wjit teli-Kpma’ltultimk” – We still carry with us the lessons on how to treat one another with the greatest respect – will immerse you in the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture, music, dance and history while honouring Residential School Survivors. It is designed to open a dialogue with young people about the truth of Canada’s residential school system. 

Watch the stream of this event, which took place at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on September 18.

Patrick Power Library

A display of artefacts at the library

Permanent Mi'kmaw Heritage Exhibit – Visit the Library to see Ta’n Etl-klo'tasik koqoey (a phrase meaning “where the items are kept or taken care of”), an exhibit celebrating the enduring legacy and culture of the Mi’kmaq people. This exhibit features a collection of Mi’kmaw cultural objects selected by community members, and is on loan from the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

The Patrick Power Library has developed a resource collection that includes books and videos related to Truth and Reconciliation. All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card or accessed online using your SMU email and password.

Other resources to support learning and reflection about Indigenous culture and experience include:

Indigenous Studies Research Guide – Your starting point for academic and community-based resources on Indigenous research topics, featuring suggested journals, search strategies, databases, government information and other resources.

SMU Theses on Mi’kmaw and Indigenous Research – Discover original research by Saint Mary’s University community members in the Institutional Repository.

Indigenous Peoples of North America Database – A digital archive covering the political, social, and cultural history of Indigenous Peoples from the sixteenth century into the twentieth century. Access is available through the Library.

Streaming Media Collections – Watch Indigenous films and documentaries through the NFB, CBC Curio, Films on Demand, Audio Cine and Criterion databases. Access is available through the Library.

A dreamcatcher hangs in the rafters of the student centre