Saint Mary’s Looks to Future with New Brand Story

Saint Mary’s University is looking to the future with the launch of a new brand.      

“It is time for Saint Mary’s University to assert our place boldly among the top Canadian universities and proclaim our advantages at home and around the globe,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “This is the brand for our university and for our times. Saint Mary’s University offers a bright, ambitious vision for the future.”  

The new brand platform results from months of qualitative and quantitative research and extensive consultation with a diverse group of more than 3,000 faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders.   

The new treatment includes a logo, wordmark and tagline, ‘World Without Limits.’    

“‘World Without Limits’ is a wonderful distillation of who we are and what Saint Mary’s strives for every day. It is about investment in people, about economies, international relations and social prosperity, changes in science, technology, environment and business. It is also about acknowledging and tackling the very real limitations placed on diverse and marginalized cultures and peoples, and addressing the mental health issues that many grapple with every day. It is about Saint Mary’s bold vision and our commitment to our university community, for Halifax and for Nova Scotia,” says President Summerby-Murray.    

“More than an updated look and feel, our new brand platform is a powerful way of telling the Saint Mary’s story,” says Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice-President, Advancement. “Saint Mary’s offers a unique experience. We are a caring community, more typically associated with smaller universities, combined with the research and student engagement opportunities of the largest institutions. We are moving the university forward in a way that reflects our traditions and values and embraces our bright future.”   

Related links

• Learn more about our new brand platform

• Learn about the Sobey School brand

• Learn about the Husky logo

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Saint Mary's Hosts: Black Business Initiatives - 25 Years & Beyond

A screen capture from the event.

On April 20, the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network launched a conversation series with the Nova Scotia-based Black Business Initiative (BBI), the longest serving Black business development initiative in Canada.

The first conversation, called Black Business Initiatives: 25 Years & Beyond, featured BBI CEO Dr. Rustum Southwell, Cynthia Dorrington, President of Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc. and Dr. Harvi Millar, Professor of Operations Management at the Sobey School of Business.

The panellists spoke to Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School, about the history of Black-owned businesses in Nova Scotia and the work that remains to be done to remove barriers to success, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Dr. Southwell noted that Black-owned businesses have contributed over a billion dollars to the Nova Scotia economy in the 25 years since BBI was founded. Innovations by Black entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia include the world-class medical company BioMedica Diagnostics of Windsor (founded by Abdullah Kirumira) and SureShot Solutions of Lower Sackville, which provides highly specialized equipment for many of the world’s most successful coffee chains (founded by CEO Michael Duck).

Despite a long history of business success and over 200 years of African Nova Scotians in the province, Ms. Dorrington noted that due to systemic barriers, it can be difficult for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners to access necessary financing, coaching, advisory services and many of the other keys to business success. As a result, these businesses are often prevented from achieving their full potential. “To grow beyond a certain level, you must work on your business, not just in your business,” she said.

Black entrepreneurs are also often shut out of certain sectors, like aerospace and information technology, due to systemic barriers. Dorrington said we need to “think big… and provide mentorship and coaching to help business owners see the next big opportunities.”       

Dr. Harvi Millar presented recent research into how Black-owned businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that surveyed businesses are facing challenges including cash flow, reductions in operating capacity, declining customer bases and temporary or permanent business closures.

The research shows that in addition to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black business owners face barriers including racial bias, lack of scale, insufficient access to wealth and collateral, lack of peer-to-peer support networks and limited market access.

Dorrington noted that these barriers are often built into unfair and outdated systems that we must now work to redesign. “These systems didn't have all voices at the table when they were designed,” she said. “This is the time. If you're going to address it, you have to look at the system and really assess what is working and what is not. We must take the initiative and get rid of what isn't working.”

Dr. Southwell noted that “no Black person – no matter how wealthy or successful in business – hasn’t felt marginalized at some point in their life.”

To lift up Black businesses, Dorrington said we must acknowledge systemic racism as a first step. “We must come together to navigate. Until you face those barriers you don't see them. People who have navigated them in the past, we can put our heads together but speak with one voice.”

The next conversation, to be scheduled shortly, will explore Barriers to Doing Business for Black Entrepreneurs: Access to Capital Market. Visit the Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network to learn more.

Entrepreneurship student wins Frank H. Sobey Award

The Sobey School of Business is thrilled to announce Morgan Baker-Tucker, a fourth year Entrepreneurship student, has won a Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies. Morgan is one of nine business students from Atlantic Canadian universities who have been named recipients of the generous $30,000 awards. 

The winners of the Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies were chosen from 32 exceptional nominations provided by the Deans of their respective business schools, based on their entrepreneurship, supporting the communities in which they live and work, their employment experience and academic excellence.

Morgan exhibits the entrepreneurial spirit of Atlantic Canada, saying her career aspiration is to run her own non-profit, ideally here on the East Coast. She says that winning the Frank H. Sobey Award has also allowed her to consider going to grad school, an opportunity she wouldn’t have previously thought possible.

The excellence of SMU's Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation recognized by major gift

The excellence of Saint Mary's University's Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) program is being recognized by a major gift from a leading figure in Canada's business and entrepreneurship community.

Rishbah Arora, MTEI student; Dr. Robert Steele, DComm’18; and Laura Russell, MTEI student.

"I have always been impressed by Saint Mary's University and the Sobey School of Business. From my time as a student and in every interaction I have with a Saint Mary's student going back decades," says Dr. Robert Steele DComm'18. "I have seen the impact that a strong business foundation from Saint Mary's provides students. I know that through this gift, Saint Mary's will be able to continue to attract amazing students from Atlantic Canada, Canada and around the world to the MTEI program and the Sobey School. Students will learn from great professors and receive the support they need to successfully develop their business ideas and start-ups into thriving businesses that will give back to the economic vitality of our region."

Dr. Steele is investing a $2 million philanthropic gift in the Sobey School of Business' Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation program which will enable it to double the size of the program, create new resources for research in the area of entrepreneurship, and support students by providing scholarships and awards to student entrepreneurs.

Over ten years, three major initiatives will be supported by this gift. They are:

• The Steele MTEI Scholarships: These scholarships will support bright, creative and motivated students who have chosen the MTEI program to help them achieve their dreams of being an entrepreneur.
  

• The Steele Entrepreneurship Awards: These entrepreneurship awards will be awarded to MTEI student entrepreneurs who are in the earliest stages of starting new businesses.
  

• The Steele Professorship in Entrepreneurship in the Sobey School of Business: This new professorship will provide additional capacity and support to expand and broaden entrepreneurship research intensity at the Sobey School. 

“This gift reflects the outstanding success of our MTEI program over the past six years and recognizes the tremendous impact of the program on entrepreneurship and innovation in Atlantic Canada,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Saint Mary’s and the Sobey School of Business are the entrepreneurship leaders in our region, and programs like MTEI show why we are part of a rising entrepreneurship tide both nationally and internationally.” 

“On behalf of Saint Mary’s University, the Sobey School of Business, and the MTEI program, I want to thank Dr. Steele for his commitment to the continued success of our institution and entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada and beyond,” says President Summerby-Murray.  

The Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saint Mary’s University is a comprehensive, cross-sector program that combines the knowledge and skills of a management program with marketing, leadership, finance, accounting, communications, economics and information technology. Alumni from the program have started their own companies ranging from rope-less lobster traps to companies specializing in customized lighting, water quality measurement, and training for recreation gaming to e-sports. Alumni have also added value to companies by bringing their MTEI expertise to management at different businesses. Those business areas include companies that deal with cybersecurity, virtual conferencing solutions, and transitioning traditionally retail-based services to at-home delivery.   

“The Sobey School of Business is preparing the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs and researchers in business and entrepreneurship,” says Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “With the rapid change this year in how businesses operate, programs focused on the integration of technology and innovation like MTEI are more important now than ever before. With this gift, we can continue to expand the scope of the program, engage more entrepreneurs and researchers in growing knowledge creation and expanding the entrepreneurship and start-up sector.”

Stayers and leavers: new SMU research looks closely at immigration in Nova Scotia

Dr. Ather Akbari

Who immigrates to Nova Scotia, who stays, leaves, and why is the focus of a recently released report from Dr. Ather Akbari, a professor with Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business. 

The report, Immigration in Nova Scotia: Who Comes, Who Stays, Who Leaves and Why?, was prepared for the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. Its main purpose was to investigate why immigrants choose Nova Scotia as their destination in Canada and why some stay in the province while others leave.   

“Evidence-based research is important for policymakers to make the best decisions for Nova Scotians. They need to have a clear picture of what attracts immigrants to this province and what is their experience,” says Dr. Akbari. “My research helps to form a picture of the Nova Scotian immigrant experience, the successes and the areas that may need some changes.”  

This report marks the third report in a series of research reports. The first project report used 2016 Canadian Census data to study general mobility patterns of Nova Scotia immigrants. The second report presented a literature review on mobility motivations of individuals and their location choice. This third and final report analyzed the results of an online survey of 2,815 immigrants, representing a total of about 28,600 who arrived in Canada during 2011-2018 with either the intention to go to Nova Scotia or who lived in Nova Scotia at some point during the eight-year period. Focus group interviews were also held in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Ontario. 

When it comes to stayers and leavers, approximately 74 percent of immigrants who had arrived during 2011-2018 were still living in the province or 21,210 in total.  

“I think the most validating find for many Nova Scotians from this report is the positive comments from both immigrants who stayed and those who left, on the quality of life in our province and community safety,” says Dr. Akbari. “Both of these areas received the top satisfaction ratings from both those who stayed and those who left. When comparing Nova Scotia with other provinces, the top two features that received better ratings for Nova Scotia were community safety and cost of accommodation. If we can leverage these with increased employment opportunities and employer involvement in the immigration process, there is a real opportunity to continue to increase the immigration retention rate.”  

The main reason respondents gave for having left the province or for their intention to leave were to seek better employment opportunities.

The survey data indicates that economic opportunity is the most pervasive factor that encourages immigrants to remain in Nova Scotia. Many immigrants who leave Nova Scotia mention economic opportunities as the main reason they left. Many also note they reluctantly decided to go as they miss the positive social interactions and other aspects of living in the province. Opportunities are mainly related to finding a job and extending to finding the right position, or one that fits their level of education, skills and experience. 

The report recommends that immigrant attraction should focus on economic immigrants who come with their families. For their settlement and integration, employer involvement such as in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, is an important step taken at federal and provincial levels. Initiatives to strengthen immigrants’ social connectedness by encouraging volunteering, sports and recreation activities can also help raise their and their family’s satisfaction with living in Nova Scotia. 

Dr. Akbari is the Chair of Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGEIAD). To read this report, or learn more about ARGEIAD, visit https://smu.ca/centres-and-institutes/atlantic-research-group.html.

Women in the finance industry making change focus of day-long Sobey School of Business event

Women working in business and finance came together to discuss change and the future of the financial services industry at a day-long event hosted by Saint Mary's University's Sobey School of Business.

Keynote speaker Catherine Philogène, CIM, RIPC, Vice President, Product Management, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

"Canadian businesses know the benefit of diversity, achieving gender parity and the risk of not doing so," says Karn Nichols, the event organizer and manager of Career Services with the Sobey School of Business. "This event is about building a more equitable and inclusive field in financial services and helping to support all women by building community."

The event, Women in Financial Services: Making Change, reflects the history and the future of women in the financial services industry. The early history of the sector often limited women to teller windows, cashing cheques and literally making change. At the same time, their male colleagues leapfrogged to corner offices and roles in wealth management, capital markets and commercial lending. Today, the value of diversity is proven to add value for all stakeholders and add trillions to North America's gross domestic product (GDP). Banks and other financial services companies are actively recruiting women to help them make change, by taking on non-traditional roles, moving into C-suite leadership, offering their talent in developing and programming fintech, and building support for entrepreneurs and venture capital.

"The Sobey School of Business has always valued and supported initiatives that contribute to our understanding of important issues like increasing diversity and representation in business," says Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, dean of the Sobey School of Business. "I am very pleased that we are taking a leading role in this area and would like to thank everyone involved in organizing this event, for bringing our community together during challenging times to discuss the importance of diversity and representation."

At the event, participants heard from diverse voices and actively participated in workshopping solutions to boost and improve women's representation and increase diversity throughout financial services, including the C-suite and the board room. Participants also had the opportunity to connect with potential mentors or mentees. 

The event featured three streams of interactive workshops on women and diversity in financial services, women, fintech and venture capital financing, and corporate social responsibility in finance. The keynote speaker was Catherine Philogène, CIM, RIPC, Vice President, Product Management, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

For more details on the event, the keynote speaker, panelists and more, visit https://smu.ca/sobeywib/ .

Retail excellence celebrated at the 4th annual National Retail Innovation Awards

Dr. David Sobey, CM, at the National Retail Innovation Awards in 2019

The excellence of three Canadian retailers was recognized at the 4th annual National Retail Innovation Awards, presented by the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services, located at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

"This is our 4th Annual National Retail Awards, and it is a great pleasure to recognize three outstanding, up-and-coming Canadian retailers for their innovation this year,” says Dr. Ramesh Venkat, director of the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services. “The big lessons for retailers from the past six months are the need for nimbleness, innovation customer focus, and social consciousness. Our award winners exemplify these virtues."

This year’s winners are:

• DUER, winner of the Retail Business Model Innovation Award

• Knix, winner of the Retail Technology Innovation Award

• Vessi Footwear, winner of the Community Service Innovation Award

Retail Business Model Innovation Award winner DUER was founded in 2013 and is based in Vancouver. They feature modern jeans and pants that meet the needs of the active with performance, comfort, and style. They create and market a prototype of a product: new washes, new colours, or a completely new style. Customers place orders, and then if enough of the design is purchased, DUER puts it into production and delivers the garment in four to six weeks. Their products are sold online and at three DUER store locations. 

Retail Technology Innovation Award winner Knix was founded in 2013 and is based in Toronto. Knix makes wireless bras, sports bras, period-proof underwear, loungewear and more. Their clothes are designed with comfort in mind. In response to the pandemic, Knix switched its annual warehouse sale to an online format. Sale volumes rose and turned a three-day event into an event that sold out in only four hours. They also launched a virtual fitting program that allows customers to do a video chat, during which a Knix consultant can help customers find products and assist them with determining the right size. 

Community Service Innovation Award winner Vessie Footwear is based in Vancouver and was founded in 2017. They sell the world's first 100 percent waterproof knit shoe. This online retailer has given away 2,000 free sneakers to health-care workers, launched a 'pay what you can' model to donate 400,000 face masks, and created a Community Fund Program to give away $100,000 for initiatives launched in the community. It also started Vessi TV, giving the community ways to stay healthy and cope with the coronavirus crisis. 

“As the largest private-sector employer in the country, retailers in Canada hold a critical role in our economy,” noted Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO of Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and a member of the David Sobey Advisory Council. “This year has been particularly challenging for retailers. To succeed in the post-pandemic retail world, Canadian retailers must adjust to new realities and new patterns of consumer behaviour. To grow and prosper in this new environment, our retailers must continue to innovate in technology, customer experience, store design, supply chain, and much more. We applaud this year’s winners as they embody innovative thinking and customer care – Congratulations to Knix, DUER and Vessi Footwear."

The National Retail Innovation Awards celebrates Canadian retailers' achievements and retailers who have demonstrated innovation and excellence in the industry. The awards are hosted by the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services, part of Saint Mary's University's Sobey School of Business. The awards close a very successful Retail Month that featured panels and discussion on e-commerce and the future of retailing, women in retail, and sustainable retailing.   

Founded in 2014, the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services funds research projects relevant to the retail sector, sponsors retail innovation and student competitions, and offers executive education for the retail industry.

Celebrating the inaugural Sobey National Innovators and Sobey MBA Scholars

Top row (left to right): Ethan Stafford, Paige Bigelow, Max Legere, Susan MacInnis, Jonah Crowther, Bailey Hanna Sutherland, Brandon Legacy

Bottom row (left to right): Marley Raycroft, Connor Haines, Hannah Birru, Hallie Wedge, Aaron Currie, Alexander Bourque, Nicolas James Graham

Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business are proud to announce the first recipients of the new Sobey National Innovator and Sobey MBA Scholarships.

The Sobey National Innovator and Sobey MBA Scholarships are presented to exceptional students from across Canada in recognition of their accomplishments, and as encouragement and support for their success at Saint Mary’s Sobey School of Business. This scholarship program will support 150 students over the next ten years with the goal of supporting the best and brightest graduate and undergraduate business students in the country to come to Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business.

The following is a list of the inaugural Sobey National Innovators:

• Paige Bigelow, Northeast Kings Education Centre, NS

• Hannah Birru, Halifax West High School, NS

• Jonah Crowther, Halifax Grammar School, NS

• Aaron Currie, Charlottetown Rural HS, PE

• Connor Haines, Parkview Education Centre, NS

• Max Legere, Saint John High School, NB

• Susan MacInnis, Prince Andrew High School, NS

• Marley Raycroft, Lockview HS, NS

• Ethan Stafford, Kennebecasis Valley High School, NB

• Hallie Wedge, Notre Dame Catholic Sec School, ON
  

“I was very excited to learn that I have been selected as one of the winners of the scholarship. When I received the call, it brought tears of joy, not only to me but my family as well,” says Sobey National Innovators scholarship recipient Hannah Birru. “Thank you again for your investment in students like myself and our education. By awarding me the Sobey National Innovator scholarship, you are allowing me to focus on the most important aspect of school, learning.”

The following is a list of the inaugural Sobey MBA Scholars:

• Alexander Bourque, NS

• Nicolas James Graham, NS

• Brandon Legacy, NB

• Bailey Hanna Sutherland, NS
  

“I was overjoyed when I found out I had been selected for this prestigious award and feel truly honoured to be a member of this special group of Sobey scholarship recipients,” says Sobey MBA Scholar Alexander N. Bourque, BSc, MSc, PhD.

In 2019, Saint Mary’s University announced a historic gift of $18 million from the Sobey Family, Sobey Foundation and Sobeys Inc., which established this transformative scholarship program as well as investments in entrepreneurship, faculty support, research and new space for the Sobey School of Business.

Ten undergraduate entrance awards valued at $50,000 over four years are awarded annually to exceptional Canadian students entering the Sobey School of Business. Five entrance awards valued at $30,000 each are awarded annually to full-time students entering the MBA program in the Sobey School of Business.

“The support of the Sobey Family and Sobeys Inc. is enhancing the educational experience for every student in the School and further builds on our strength in preparing business students for leadership, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and innovation,” says the Sobey School of Business Dean, Dr. Harjeet Bhabra. “We could not be prouder of this first cohort of Sobey National Innovators and Sobey MBA Scholars and welcome them to the Sobey School of Business and Saint Mary’s University.”

Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray added, “The Sobey family, Sobeys Inc., and Saint Mary’s share a vision. A vision that focuses on people, impact, and purpose. Thank you to the Sobey family and Sobeys Inc. for their extraordinary philanthropic leadership, which is truly game-changing for Saint Mary’s University.”

“Congratulations to the new Sobey National Innovators and the Sobey MBA Scholarship recipients,” adds President Summerby-Murray. “Your selection as recipients of these awards recognizes your hard work, talent and leadership potential, and we are looking forward to supporting you for continued success and distinction at Saint Mary’s and beyond.”

To learn more about these scholarships, visit
https://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/sobey-innovator-scholarships.html 

David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services celebrates Retail Month

Dr. David Sobey, CM at the National Retail Innovation Awards.

The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services at Saint Mary's University is hosting a series of online events and discussions on the retail industry this October as part of Retail Month.

Retail Month, hosted by the David Sobey Centre, celebrates the retail industry and leads discussions to uncover the latest trends, practices and future predictions in retail.

"We have hosted several well-received Retail Weeks over the past several years, and one of the main comments we kept receiving was why only a week," says Dr. Ramesh Venkat, the director of the David Sobey Centre. "Retail Month offers industry leaders, and members of the retail sector increased opportunities to discuss trends and innovations they see in the sector. The pandemic has created unusual challenges and opportunities for the retail sector, making this year's Retail Month even more valuable."

Retail Month reach extends beyond the business community to students. There are many opportunities for university students and graduates in the retail sector.  With many companies promoting employees from within, recent graduates have extensive growth opportunities when joining the industry.

Speakers for Retail Month events include senior executives from national retail companies such as Sobeys Inc., Hudson's Bay Company, Staples, IKEA, and Dillard's. Representatives from these companies, and more, will be sharing their experience in various panel discussions. The topics are e-commerce and the future of retailing, women in retail, and sustainable retailing.

As part of Retail Month, the 4th annual National Retail Innovation Awards will occur on Thursday, Oct. 29. The National Retail Innovation Awards celebrates Canadian retailers' achievements and retailers who have demonstrated innovation and excellence in the industry. This year the award categories are retail business model innovation, retail technology innovation, and community service innovation. The award categories reflect the areas where retailers had to successfully adapt their business practices during the global pandemic.

The Sustainability Case Competition is also taking place during Retail Month. Students will participate in a case competition to support a local, sustainable retailer. This competition is in partnership with the 2nd Annual Sobey School of Business Responsibility Conference hosted by the Sobey School of Business.

For more information on Retail Month and the speaker series, visit: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/retail-month-20201/series_summit.

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.