Saint Mary's Clean Catch Baits wins the Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge

Left: Robel Berhane, Chief Financial Officer: Top right: Katherine vanZutphen, Operations Manager; Bottom right: Guillermo Villarreal De Lara, President & CEO

Clean Catch Baits, a company that creates biodegradable fishing lures, is the winner of the inaugural Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge. 

Based out of Saint Mary’s University, Clean Catch Baits decided to address the challenge of microplastics in fishing gear. Their winning solution to this problem is a 100% biodegradable, PVC-free soft-bait fishing lure for recreational fishing, developed through a unique organic biopolymer solution. The people behind the idea and the company are Robel Berhane, Chief Financial Officer and a 4th year undergraduate student in Commerce; Guillermo Villarreal De Lara BComm’20, President & CEO; and Katherine vanZutphen BComm’20, Operations Manager.

“We are very happy to be the inaugural AquaHacking Challenge winners here in the Atlantic region,” says Guillermo Villarreal, CEO, Clean Catch Baits. “With this prize, we can expand the scope of our business and bring this solution into the hands of anglers across Atlantic Canada.”

The Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge is a start-up competition designed to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to water. Through the Challenge, they then develop their solution into commercially viable products or services and establish start-up companies.

The following is a list of the five finalists, their rewards, and placements:

• 1st = Clean Catch Baits - $20,000

• 2nd = Well Warriors - $15,000

• 3rd = WIDE - $10,000

• 4th = ExTech MIP - $2,500

• 5th = What the Well $2,500

The teams can also match funds through the Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur program thanks to a national partnership between Mitacs Canada and Aqua Forum.

“Congratulations to all the organizers, sponsors and above all the finalists in the 2020 Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge!” says Désirée McGraw, President & CEO of Aqua Forum. “I salute your ingenuity and for your commitment to a better future by solving wicked water problems. I am particularly pleased that, for the first time in the history of AquaHacking Challenges, a solution addressing the critical issue of microplastics wins. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you and all the finalist teams. Thank you again for your dedication and for your participation.”

The AquaHacking Challenge is an initiative of Aqua Forum founded by the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation in 2015 to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to freshwater. After five successful years in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, AquaHacking went national for 2020 with regional competitions across Canada.

The Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge is powered by the RBC Foundation, with support from the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation along with other national and local sponsors.

For more information on the competition, the companies and their solutions, visit:  https://aquahacking.com/en/2020-atlanticcanada/.

Saint Mary’s research in psychology, management, and history receives federal funding

Saint Mary’s University researchers have received federal funding for projects totaling $300,000 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Insight Grants competition.

“Research in the social sciences and humanities is a fundamental element of how society understands and interprets itself, providing the insight needed to critically explore the true impact of our established institutions, both positive and negative,” says Dr. Adam Sarty, dean of Graduate Studies and associate vice-president of Research at Saint Mary’s University. “These grant recipients are all challenging key aspects within our culture – from the criminal justice system, to sexual abuse cover-up within the Catholic Church, to workplace incivility, to examinations of medical malpractice. I am very proud of our recipients for their willingness to challenge conventions and engage in this research that enriches both our local and global communities.”

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The following is a list of Saint Mary’s Insight Grant recipients:

Recipient: Dr. Meg Ternes (Psychology)
Title: Lie Detection in the Criminal Justice System: Exploring Deception Cues in Field and Laboratory Studies

Dr. Meg Ternes

Description: Most of us are not good lie detectors; lie detection accuracy is usually at chance level. Yet, lies accompanied by powerful emotions and false emotional displays can have major consequences, especially in the criminal justice system where the perceived credibility of an alleged victim’s distress or an offender’s remorse can inform decisions concerning verdicts, sentencing, or parole. For this project, Dr. Ternes and her team will examine the efficacy of nonverbal, verbal, and facial cues to deception (together and separately) using laboratory and field research approaches. The laboratory study will consider emotionally-laden lies and truths told by undergraduate students under controlled conditions, while the field study will consider lies and truths told by criminal suspects in police interviews. The results of these studies will improve our understanding of which combinations of cues contribute the most to deception detection. These results will be shared with professionals in the criminal justice system who have to make these important credibility judgements on a regular basis.

Dr. Cathy Driscoll

Recipient: Dr. Cathy Driscoll (Management)
Title: Exploring Collective Moral Disengagement in Cover-up of Sexual Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church

Description: The broad aim of my research project is to better understand, and effect change in, organizations that are engaged in potentially contradictory practices to their principles, mission, and values. Specifically, this project will focus on institutional and leader moral disengagement in the context of the cover-up of clergy sexual abuse (CSA) of minors in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Using content and discourse analysis, I will study current and historic RCC leader discourse from 1990 to 2020 across four countries. Better understanding insights into the organizational dynamics and discourse strategies in this context can provide valuable applications to the RCC with an estimated 1 billion members, as well as to other organizations’ crises, control dynamics, corruption, and misconduct issues (e.g., banks and public sector).

Recipient: Dr. Camilla M. Holmvall (Psychology and Management)
Title: Examining how workplace incivility impacts leader well-being: The moderating role of leader gender

Description: Workplace incivility has been highlighted as highly prevalent in organizations and also highly damaging to employee attitudes, behaviours, and well-being. Research has focused predominantly on mistreatment directed from supervisors toward subordinates, and between coworkers. However, supervisors, managers, and leaders can also be targets of disrespect. Understanding how, and when, leaders’ well-being is impacted by workplace incivility has significant implications, in part due to leaders’ influence on the achievement of the objectives of the organization as well as on their followers’ performance and well-being.  In this 5-year mixed-methods grant, we draw on relevant theory (e.g., selective incivility, stereotype activation and threat) to examine the possible different experiences of male and female leaders in terms of both their likelihood of experiencing incivility as well as on its impacts on their well-being. 

Recipient: Dr. Blake Brown (History)
Title: A History of Canadian Medical Malpractice Law, 1935-1980

Description: This research will break new and exciting ground in historical research in Canada. It will produce the first history of medical malpractice law in English Canada from 1935 to 1980. One of the most contentious areas of law in the mid twentieth century, malpractice law developed in significantly different ways in Canada than in the United States. The project will explain key changes and trends, and also consider the impacts of technology and the roles of gender, ethnicity and race in shaping the results of malpractice lawsuits. The study ends in 1980, by which time Medicare and the emergence of professional self-regulation complaint systems altered how governments, the medical profession, and individuals approached negligence issues. Focusing primarily on actions against physicians and surgeons, the research will also explore how hospitals and other medical professionals became entangled with litigation. This research will interest historians and also legal scholars, medical professionals, lawyers, policy makers and the general public, since medical malpractice is an important and pressing policy issue.

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The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Insight Grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Funding is available to both emerging and established scholars for research initiatives of two to five years. Stable support for long-term research initiatives is central to advancing knowledge. It enables scholars to address complex issues about individuals and societies, and to further our collective understanding.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and research training in the humanities and social sciences. By focusing on developing talent, generating insights and forging connections across campuses and communities, SSHRC strategically supports world-leading initiatives that reflect a commitment to ensuring a better future for Canada and the world.

The work SSHRC supports encourages the deepest levels of inquiry. It spurs innovative researchers to learn from one another’s disciplines, delve into multiparty collaborations and achieve common goals for the betterment of Canadian society. Research outcomes are shared with communities, businesses and governments, who use this new knowledge to innovate and improve people’s lives.

Unveiling the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network

Saint Mary’s University has unveiled the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network.

Established as a recovery network for communities and businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, the Sobey School Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network puts the university’s academic and industry experts’ perspectives into service, supporting the recovery of the regional economy. 

Experts are drawn from faculty, research centres, alumni and partners in industry. They will tackle subjects including how data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence can serve in business recovery; how retirement savings will be affected; and how the retail industry can recover.  

“People describe our current situation as unprecedented, but universities have come through these sorts of times before,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “The successful universities have done so by embracing transformation and harnessing the dynamics of extraordinary circumstances to help their communities. This prosperity network brings our experts into the community at a time when they are needed most.”

Through this network, the University will foster a resilient community of innovation and support for Nova Scotia’s businesses and communities and provide resources for entrepreneurs and business leaders, including:

• experts businesses and governments can consult to help navigate the economic recovery;

• evidence-informed free webinars to help communities and businesses recover from the pandemic;

• an opportunity to receive discussion papers and advance invitations to online events; and

• blog posts and opinion editorials with which to engage, and share thoughts and knowledge.

Saint Mary’s University has been actively engaged in responding to the pandemic—providing  personal protective equipment, COVID-19 related research and free business coaching and expert advice for entrepreneurs, businesses and government. The Sobey School of Business and the Entrepreneurship Centre have been at the forefront of these efforts, in keeping with their roles and long tradition as a driver of business excellence, entrepreneurship and economic strength in the region.

“We must come out of this crisis stronger, and we know that will take a coordinated effort across all sectors of our economy,” says Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “We anticipate this project will enable meaningful collaborations between our Sobey School researchers, industry experts and those on the frontlines, sparking the innovation that will revitalize our economy. We want our joint efforts to produce a more prosperous province for all Nova Scotians.”

Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business have long been committed to making a positive impact on local and global business practice and the region’s economy. In the Sobey School’s strategic plan, Elevating Impact, the school committed to “Engage with the broader community to enrich learning and discovery, and address issues of local and global significance.” The COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on the economy around the globe. Governments protected their citizens by curtailing public life, including commerce. Lives have been saved, and peoples’ health protected by these means. As the region begins the hard work of restarting the economy, the Sobey School of Business is prepared to play an essential role in helping Nova Scotia businesses and communities cope. 

The first free webinar is scheduled for July 16: Business in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: Using Data Analytics to Achieve Sustainable Recovery and Growth.

In addition to the no-cost resources offered by the Sobey School of Business Prosperity Network, there are paid courses offered through the Sobey School of Business Executive and Professional Development program that address some of the specifics around coping with COVID-19, including financial planning during the pandemic’s uncertainty; mindfulness and stress; new manager skills; and leading virtually.

Third cohort graduates from the BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce Program

This year’s BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce Program graduating class when they started in 2016.

On June 19, a group of 72 students from the BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce Program graduated in absentia from Saint Mary’s University.

Each of the 72 graduates was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Sobey School of Business, with 60 earning a major in Finance. Later this month, they will also be granted a Bachelor of Economics degree from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai.

This is the third cohort to graduate from the Joint BComm Program, which began in 2014 and is based entirely in Zhuhai, China. Students in this program receive a truly international education, with half of their courses delivered by visiting SMU faculty and the other half taught by faculty members of BNUZ.

Many of this year’s graduates plan to continue their postgraduate studies abroad in September, and 44 have already received offers from universities in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Some well-known institutions include Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Sydney.

The BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce Program was born out of a longstanding partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. This partnership dates back to 2002 and has included a range of 2+2 programs in Arts, Business and Science, as well as a number of other exchange programs and summer institutes for students, faculty and members of the community.

Over 40 SMU faculty members from the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Arts and have travelled to Zhuhai to teach in the Joint BComm Program since 2016. The relationships developed in this process have led to further research initiatives with colleagues in the International Business Faculty at BNUZ. The annual joint convocation in Zhuhai is normally an opportunity for friends, colleagues and alumni of both institutions to reconnect while celebrating the outstanding success of our students. Although this year’s celebrations have been curtailed due to the ongoing global pandemic, we honour the achievements of our graduates and extend our warmest welcome to the newest members of our alumni community.

Sobey School researcher looking into the factors that may impact COVID-19 transmission

Dr. Yigit Aydede leads a research project that brings together data on the effects of weather, climate and local air quality, along with social mobility, to determine their effects on the transmission of COVID-19. The project was recently funded through the Nova Scotia COVID-10 Health Research Coalition.

Dr. Yigit Aydede

“The expectation is that warmer days will mean lower transmission,” noted Sobey School of Business economics professor Aydede. “The assimilation of this data is going to be one of the best policy tools in terms of understanding the risk awareness, expectations and forecasting. This project will help the government determine the possible effects of mobility restrictions.”

Dr. Aydede said the project can only be done locally. “We are not the only one. This kind of research is being done around the world. You can’t take a model from, say, Amsterdam and use it here. It has to be local.”

The study will harness techniques of machine learning and neural networks to crunch vast amounts of data, examining them for relationships. Researchers will examine high-dimensional air quality and atmospheric data localized to a street-by-street basis, alongside satellite weather data, looking at their impacts on respiratory health. It will also factor in publicly available data from Google and Apple on social mobility, including not only what the reason for mobility is (shopping or recreation, for instance), but also what type of mobility is employed: car, transit, or walking, for example. Finally, they will pull in the publicly-available 811 and COVID testing data provided by the Nova Scotia government.

The weather and air quality data are coming from several different companies, two of which are based in Boston and Israel, called ClimaCell and Breezometer respectively. The actual analysis will rely on the robust processing platforms of Google and Amazon.

The funding was part of the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition. Dr. Aydede is the principal investigator, and leads a collaborative team of co-investigators including Dr. Mutlu Yuksel (Dalhousie) and Dr. Daniel Silver (Acadia). The project is a partnership with MLport (a research portal on machine learning Dr. Aydede helped found), Acadia’s Institute for Data Analytics (AIDA), and Saint Mary’s University’s CLARI, the Change Lab Action Research Initiative.

The project team initially came together in 2018 to examine the data relating to chronic respiratory illness, such as asthma. When COVID-19 began infecting the Atlantic region, they recognized there would be value in pivoting to address the urgent needs brought by the pandemic. The project has received additional funding from Mitacs. Dr. Aydede notes that most of the project funding will go to support the staff required for the data analysis, including graduate students. 

The COVID-19 Health Research Coalition is dedicated to fostering a research environment that engages our academic partnerships and responds to the current needs of Nova Scotians and our health system, in addition to maintaining the expertise in innovative research, discovery science, population/social sciences, and health system improvement.

Dr. Mohammad Rahaman: The calm before the economic storm

Dr. Mohammad Rohaman

The following is an excerpt from an article Dr. Mohammad Rohaman wrote for The Chronicle Herald.

The effect of COVID-19 on the Canadian economy has been swift and dramatic. Before COVID-19, the economy was expected to grow at a 1.6 per cent to 1.7 per cent rate in 2020. The Bank of Canada now expects economic activity to slow by as much as 30 per cent from the end of 2019; one estimate by Bloomberg projects a slump as high as 40 per cent. Just by looking at the number of unique applicants for the $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), it appears that the pandemic has effectively wiped out all job gains made in the Canadian economy over the last 30 years.

How prepared are Canadians to weather such an unprecedented and virulent economic storm? To begin with, Canadian household and business insolvencies spiked dramatically even before COVID-19. Every single day in 2019, a whopping 375 people filed for insolvency proposals, a number that hasn’t been seen since the recession of 2008-2009. To add insult to the injury, the collapse in oil and gas prices led to a sky-high number of business insolvencies in 2019, the first such increase since 2001. On top of that, Canadian households owe $1.76 for every dollar in disposable income, one of the highest rates in the developed world. In places like Vancouver and Toronto, that spikes to about $2.40, at a level only seen in Iceland before the global financial crisis. The insolvency accounting firm MNP Consumer Debt Index, released recently, found that about half of Canadians (49 per cent) surveyed are now on the brink of insolvency, saying they are $200 or less away from not being able to meet their monthly debt obligations. It is therefore fair to say that Canadians entered the COVID-19 episode quite ill-prepared.

Why aren’t we seeing bankruptcies piling up? Because we are now witnessing the calm before the storm. Right now, every Canadian consumer and business are essentially creditor-proof due to the federal and provincial income, wage and rent support system and, of course, courts are closed. The trouble is the government does not know whose credit is good and whose is bad, but the bank knows. When the economy starts to reopen, the fault line will emerge, and some businesses will likely fall through the crack. Being accountable to their shareholders, banks are unlikely to pick up the slack when the government safety net ends…

Click here to view the entire article Dr. Rahaman wrote for the Chronicle Herald.

Saint Mary’s researchers receive funding as part of Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition

In this unprecedented time of local and global uncertainty, there has never been a greater need to conduct medical and health-related research to collect real-time evidence to inform practice, policy and decision making. The Nova Scotia research community has come together to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic with a collective investment of just over $1.5 million in COVID-19 focused research. 

Today, the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition announced the lead researchers who are receiving funding. Among the recipients are two Saint Mary’s University researchers: Dr. Yigit Aydede, and Dr. Debra Gilin.

“The researchers receiving funding as part of this announcement are tackling the impacts and spread of the COVID-19 virus, turning their expertise to this global problem,” says Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President Research and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. “Our researchers are tackling this problem with the tools of machine learning and data analytics to track the virus spread in one case, and the expertise of workplace training and interventions to prevent front-line burnout in the other case.  These projects provide a window into the breadth of the research we do at Saint Mary’s. We work collaboratively and engage in research that matters to our communities.”

This funding supports COVID-19 research that will inform health system decisions, facilitate vaccine development, identify novel treatments, develop devices, and influence social response to the pandemic. Funding will also leverage existing research capabilities to help rapidly respond to the urgent need to support further COVID-19 focused research right here in Nova Scotia.

The COVID-19 Health Research Coalition is dedicated to fostering a research environment that engages our academic partnerships and responds to the current needs of Nova Scotians and our health system, in addition to maintaining the expertise in innovative research, discovery science, population/social sciences, and health system improvement.

Dr. Yigit Aydede

Funding recipient: Dr. Yigit Aydede

Project: The Role of Environmental Determinants and Social Mobility in Viral Infection Transmission in Halifax

Description: This study will analyze the relationships between COVID-19 transmission rates, meteorological and air quality, and the fluctuations in social mobility in Nova Scotia to allow for better calibration of spatial spread in simulation models that are used to inform policy making.

Funding amount: $36,900

Dr. Debra Gilin

Funding recipient: Dr. Debra Gilin

Project: Preventing Burnout Among Front-Line Care Workers to Fight Covid-19: Screen and Intervene

Description: This study will rapidly develop tailored screening and intervention tools to support mental health and prevent elevated job burnout or safety risks in COVID-19-responding health care staff in Nova Scotia.

Funding amount: $47,640

Additional information:

• The full list of Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition funding recipients.  

MTEI alumnus innovating in 3D to help fight virus

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16, began making face shields for health professionals and customer service outlets through 3D printing.

Kevin Gallant MTEI ’16 and two of his 3D printed face shields.

Kevin Gallant is a professional engineer, entrepreneur, and an instructor and researcher with NBCC Miramichi.

“I was requested, from a few consultants and companies, to help in this request for PPE or protective gear for hospitals. For some reason, I expected this, based on my 3D printing network requests,” says Kevin. 

He posted about the shields on LinkedIn and was surprised to receive over 13k views, along with comments and requests to help. “This surprised me, that people were empowered to see how something so simple for me made such a large impact. I wanted to share how volunteerism can help support health professionals or people on the front lines that need PPE.”

“I purchased a $25 face shield from a local retail store three weeks ago,” he adds. “Now I can make them for one-fifth the price, but we are trying to price it properly to cover costs, shipping and provide some incentives to volunteer 3D printer shops. Safety is a concern with any product supply chain movement.”  

So how do you start making face shields? For someone who revels in technology, this part was easy: “I knew a company called PRUSA had shared a prototype design that they have perfected through dozens of prints, called the RC3.1 face shield.”

The company had gone through dozens of prototypes and two verifications with the Czech Ministry of Health. The work is shared under a license under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License. 

“I downloaded the 3D print file and imported it into my own 3D printer software for Ditto-pro supported formats. This was a great design, and fit 100 clear shields perfectly.” 

“I have two brands of 3D printers in my own home basement lab. These can print a face shield support in three hours each.”

Kevin used the rope skills he developed lobster fishing to tie the elastic rear backings for a comfortable fit. The backings were supplied from Anne Bracken Formals.

Kevin is now working with a supply chain to maintain over 25 3D printers in a network creating the PPE pieces. The clear shields are currently supplied, but there are plans to stamp out their own rolled sheets once the supply chain is broken. 

Face shields isn’t the end of it though – he’s already working on the next way to help. “Another different COVID-19 project is our NO-touch door knob for senior facilities.  This custom door knob attachment that can allow people only to use their arm or elbow to open and pull.  This will help with a no touch or prevent contamination in high-touch zones.”  

“As an engineer and inventor I promote community projects such as new cedar planters for food banks which have rain gutters to support self-watering leveling tanks,” says Kevin. “I’m always open to explore new projects, including sustainable and renewable technologies. I invite people who are looking for an engineer partner for their social enterprise or sustainability project to check out my video profile.”

Kevin has been teaching 3D and innovation for more than 26 years.

Additional notes:

• Check out Kevin Gallant’s 3D printed face shields in this video

• View an explainer video of the no-touch door knob attachment.

• View Kevin Gallant’s professional video profile.

SMU Entrepreneurship Centre partners with prominent alumna to expand free business coaching sessions

In response to COVID-19 and the challenges it poses to local businesses, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre is expanding its consulting services to offer more free virtual one-on-one business coaching sessions. 

“Many local businesses are having to make tough decisions,” says Michael Sanderson, director, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre. “We are here to connect local companies with free virtual one-on-one business coaching to help them find the best way forward for their business during this challenging time.” 

Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92

For the past few weeks, the centre has offered free virtual strategy sessions to Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to help identify potential solutions to current challenges. Now through a partnership with prominent alumna and successful serial entrepreneur Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92, the centre is expanding those services. 

“I have more than twenty years of experience building and leading high-growth technology companies in the financial services industry, and during that time, I have dealt with adversity and economic downturns,” says Susko, CEO and founder of Metronome United. “Now, I share that knowledge and experience with 60 Metronome coaches and their clients worldwide. We help CEOs and leadership teams overcome obstacles and grow. We know that businesses are facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19, and we are here to help you.” 

Recognized in March 2020 as one Canada’s Top 25 Inspirational Women Leaders, Susko was also named as one Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2018 and was awarded Canada’s Top 40 under 40 in 2001. Susko has built and led high-growth tech companies in the financial services industry. In six years, she co-founded, managed, and sold two companies: Subserveo, Inc. and Paradata Systems Inc. 

For more information, visit www.smuec.ca and www.metronomeunited.com .

Sobey Executive MBA first program in Canada to achieve international Silver Accreditation for evidence-based management focus

The Sobey School of Business

In the trying times facing the world today, the Sobey School of Business continues to innovate and improve its business programs. The Sobey Executive MBA (EMBA) program has been awarded a Silver Accreditation by the international Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa). The program, located at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the first to receive this level of accreditation in Canada.

The Sobey EMBA program emphasizes evidence-based management, a framework which originated in medicine and has since migrated to other disciplines such as business and management. The accreditation recognizes that the program has “a series of courses that connect, build, and integrate evidence-based management principles.”

“With the topics dominating our news media and board table discussions across the country, we know now more than ever that evidence is essential in good decision making,” said Dr. Harjeet S. Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business.  “When I took on this role, I brought a goal of enhancing the School’s research program. I immediately recognized that this evidence-based approach is central to our impact.”

The Sobey EMBA program recently was revitalized, and an important part of the renewal was pursuing this accreditation. Wendy Carroll, Academic Director of the Sobey EMBA program, has been a fellow with the CEBMa since 2009 and has engaged with members there to help build the rigour of the practice and with colleagues in the Sobey School of Business to create innovative approaches within the refreshed curriculum.  The first cohort in the refreshed EMBA program began classes in January 2020. 

“Our graduates learn to use and critically appraise multiple sources of evidence to inform their decision-making process which in turn helps them lead with confidence,” said Dr. Wendy Carroll, Academic Director, Executive MBA Program. “We look forward to acknowledging this achievement with our community both online and when we are together again in person on campus.”

“We have been impressed with the Sobey program’s willingness to submit to the rigour of the process,” notes Eric Barends, Managing Director, CEBMa.  “We have three levels of accreditation. We thought early on that Sobey could probably achieve level 1, but the outcome of our assessment was that the school merited a silver accreditation.”

The Sobey School of Business is a recognized leader in business education and responsible management. The School has been recognized in 2020 as PRME Champions by the UN’s Global Compact and Principles of Responsible Management Education. The Sobey MBA program ranks in Corporate Knights’ top 10. Ivy Exec recognized the Executive MBA program as number five in Canada in 2017.  

Denise Rousseau, who consulted on Sobey EMBA program development and serves as chair of the CEBMa Academic Council, was recently recognized with the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). The annual award is given in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the science of industrial and organizational psychology.

The Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa) is the leading authority on evidence-based practice in the field of management and leadership. The Center is an independent, non-profit foundation that provides support and education to managers, leaders, consultants, teachers, and others who want to enhance their understanding of how an evidence-based approach helps people in organizations make better decisions.

Commerce and engineering students shine at international competition in Montreal

(l-r) Clifford Isenor, Andrew Herold, Kaitlyn Anderson and Kevin Schwarzer

During February break, Clifford Isenor and Andrew Herold represented Sobey on a cross-faculty elite team that travelled to Montreal to take part in the ENGCOMM Case Competition, billed as "the cross-disciplinary case competition combining both engineering and commerce." The competition was hosted by the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and aims to collaboratively find solutions to real-world challenges faced by modern industries.

Representing the engineering side of the equation were Kaitlyn Anderson and Kevin Schwarzer, a student who had worked with the David Sobey Centre on their recent retail robot initiative. Team coaches were Sobey's Case Competition Coordinator Breagh Matheson, MBA, and professor Luke MacDonald of the Division of Engineering.

Fourteen schools competed including the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, University of Vermont, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, Western, York, Ryerson, McMaster, the Technological University in Dublin, Ireland, and the American University in Cairo.

Over four days, students completed and prepared case analyses on sponsor companies Global Medic, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and L3 Harris.

Overall: Saint Mary’s University was extremely competitive, with judges applauding their creativity and seamless flow of presentations. The team improved with every presentation, scoring higher with each consecutive day. After the 12-hour final case prep presentations, they were scored only three points behind the leader in their respective pool, making it a very close competition. The students refined their analysis and presentation skills and overall, had an incredible time.

During the opening dinner the team was seated with several executives of L3 Harris, providing our students with incredible networking opportunities.

The team would like to thank the following sponsors: Sobey School of Business, Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President Academic and Research, the BComm Advising Centre, the Dean of Science Office/Science Advising, Engineers NS and SMUSA.