185 learning opportunities connect Atlantic students with real-world challenges through Experience Ventures

Students across Atlantic Canada will have access to 185 opportunities to tackle real-world challenges with innovative businesses and organizations while building the problem-solving, collaboration, creativity and adaptability skills needed to thrive in a changing world.

For the third year, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary's University is bringing 185 experiential learning opportunities, offering honorariums to students across Atlantic Canada through its continued partnership with Experience Ventures for the 2026–27 program year.

Powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and funded in part through the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative, Experience Ventures connects post-secondary students with businesses and organizations through hands-on learning experiences. Students apply their knowledge to real challenges, develop entrepreneurial thinking and contribute meaningful solutions while earning an honorarium.

The renewed partnership will expand opportunities for students at universities and colleges across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, businesses gain access to talented students who bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas and new approaches to complex challenges.

Student Success

Experience Ventures gives students the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it into practice through real-world projects with businesses and organizations.

For students like Subhan Nadeem, a Saint Mary’s student who took part in the Fall 2025 Project-Based Experience, the program provided an opportunity to apply his computer science knowledge to a real business challenge. During his placement, Subhan developed a tool for lead generation and email automation, using his knowledge of algorithms, APIs and AI systems to create a practical solution for a client.

A student presents at the Sustainable Retail Hackathon, an Experience Ventures event at Saint Mary’s in 2025

“The most impactful part of my Experience Ventures placement was developing an AI-driven solution for a business. It allowed me to combine my technical knowledge with real-world problem-solving, directly contributing to a client’s business growth.”

For Subhan, the impact extended beyond the placement itself. The hands-on experience strengthened his interest in technology development, AI and entrepreneurship, while giving him practical experience he can carry into his future career.

“I would gladly participate again. This experience helped me apply my technical skills to real business challenges … and gave me valuable hands-on experience for my future career.”

Stories like Subhan’s demonstrate the value of experiential learning: students gain more than experience for their resumes. They develop the confidence, adaptability, problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to navigate an evolving world of work.

The Impact of Experience Ventures

Experience Ventures continues to create meaningful connections between students, businesses and organizations across Atlantic Canada. Through hands-on projects and paid experiential learning opportunities, students gain practical experience while organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Impact from 2024–26 

• Students engaged: 335

• Businesses and organizations engaged: 84

• Atlantic provinces served: 4

• Honorariums awarded: $198,350

• Student satisfaction: 96.4%

These results highlight the growing impact of experiential learning across the region and the strength of the partnerships that make these opportunities possible.

“The broad reach of the Experience Ventures program is only possible through the strength of our national partner network. We are delighted to have our regional lead school, Saint Mary's University, leading the expansion of our program across Atlantic Canada,” said Sarah Topps, Senior Director, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives (Acting), Experience Ventures.

Through its continued partnership with Experience Ventures, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is helping bring these opportunities to more students across the region while strengthening connections between post-secondary institutions and the business community.

“Experience Ventures gives students the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and tackle real challenges alongside innovative businesses. These experiences help students build confidence, strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset and develop the skills employers value most: the ability to collaborate, adapt, take initiative and find creative solutions. We're excited to continue expanding these opportunities across Atlantic Canada,” said Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Students participated in a Engineering Hackathon in partnership with Qalam Health Solutions in 2025

Learning by Doing

Experience Ventures is built around entrepreneurial thinking, identifying opportunities, approaching challenges creatively, taking initiative, collaborating with others and developing innovative solutions.

For students like Subhan, these experiences show how classroom concepts translate into solving real business problems. Working directly with organizations helps students navigate ambiguity, communicate across disciplines and apply their knowledge in practical settings.

These capabilities are increasingly valuable across every industry and help prepare students for their careers from day one.

Five Ways to Gain Experience

Students can participate in one of five experiential learning opportunities:

1. Hackathons – One- or two-day intensive events where teams solve real business and social innovation challenges.

2. Challenges – Multi-week interdisciplinary projects where students develop solutions for partner organizations.

3. Project Experiences – Part-time placements where students complete defined projects with businesses over up to 80 hours.

4. Student-in-Residence Placements – Opportunities to work with multiple businesses during a term, gaining diverse industry experience.

5. Interdisciplinary Team Projects – Collaborative placements where students from different academic backgrounds work together to solve complex business challenges.

The 2026–27 program includes 185 opportunities across these five streams. Recruitment began in the summer for Project Experiences, Interdisciplinary Team Projects and Student-in-Residence Placements, while Hackathons and Challenges will launch throughout the fall.

Why Businesses Participate

Experience Ventures helps organizations access talented students from a wide range of disciplines who bring curiosity, creativity and fresh perspectives to real business challenges.

By working alongside students, businesses can explore new ideas, advance projects and gain insight from the next generation of innovators, while helping shape the skills and experiences students need to succeed.

“We're not hiring students just yet, but if an opportunity arose, we would hire the intern who worked on our project. It's a great way to get to know someone in a professional capacity in a very low-risk environment,” said Kevin Buchan of Novastorms Data Analytics Inc.

For businesses, Experience Ventures is more than an opportunity to get support on a project. It provides a chance to build relationships with emerging talent, see students in action and discover potential future employees

Get Involved

Students and businesses interested in participating are encouraged to submit an interest form to receive updates on upcoming opportunities and application dates.

Eligible participants must be undergraduate students enrolled at a Canadian post-secondary institution and legally entitled to work in Canada. Students may participate in one Experience Ventures placement during the 2026–27 program year.

Through its continued partnership with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities that empower students, strengthen businesses and foster entrepreneurial thinking across Atlantic Canada.

Saint Mary’s students showcase their social enterprises in Mexico

Saint Mary’s Enactus students with other Enactus members in Mexico City

Enactus Saint Mary's was invited to represent Enactus Canada at the Enactus Mexico 2026 National Exposition, bringing Saint Mary’s student entrepreneurs to an international stage in Mexico City.

Held August 23–24 at Centro Banamex, the event brought together approximately 500 students from 15 schools, showcasing nearly 50 projects across three competitions: Next Gen Leaders, Mentoractus and the National Competition. Teams presented innovative ideas that combined technology, entrepreneurship and sustainability to address real-world challenges.

Members of the Enactus SMU team representing Canada

Alongside Saint Mary's University, students from the United States, Puerto Rico and Colombia also showcased their projects alongside teams from Enactus Mexico, creating an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from different approaches and connect with students across the Enactus network.

Representing Canada in Mexico was more than a competition; it was a chance to learn, connect and bring the Saint Mary’s perspective to an international audience. For Mia Makhlouf, Co-President of Enactus SMU and an Engineering student, the experience was an exciting opportunity to connect with students and entrepreneurs from around the world.

The event gave students the opportunity to apply business and entrepreneurial skills to meaningful social and environmental challenges in their communities.

Learn more about Enactus SMU and get involved in student entrepreneurship through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s website.

Entrepreneurship opens new pathways for international students through SEE Bootcamp

Students from the SEE Bootcamp at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

The Summer Entrepreneurial Experience (SEE) Bootcamp gave international student entrepreneurs from across Nova Scotia just five weeks to take an idea from concept to a business ready for the spotlight.

From June 16 to July 17, participants from post-secondary institutions including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), Acadia University and Mount Saint Vincent University came together for an intensive summer accelerator focused on building businesses with long-term impact.

Delivered by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre in partnership with EduNova’s Study and Stay™ initiative and supported by the TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative, the program combined hands-on workshops, mentorship, customer discovery, financial planning and one-on-one pitch coaching. Along the way, participants explored how entrepreneurship can become a pathway to building both a successful business and a future in Nova Scotia.

One of the defining moments of the program came just two days before the final competition, when every team had to submit a locked version of their pitch deck. The deadline challenged participants to make difficult decisions, refine their storytelling, and prepare for a pitching environment where every detail mattered.

The program concluded in a live pitch competition on July 17, where founders presented their validated business ideas to a panel of expert judges for cash prizes and the opportunity to continue developing their ventures through the Centre’s fall Ignition Program. In addition to the pitch awards, the winning founders will each receive five one-on-one business advising sessions with Irene Saliendra of Digital Flow Consulting, generously provided by program partner EduNova to support the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

Riya Ralli, a recent grad from Dalhousie, earned first place and a $2,000 prize for Belong. Second place went to recent SMU grad Vaishali Sachdeva BA’26 (Blyss), Narimene Djamai from SMU (FreshSense) and Yvanna Tchatchoua from MSVU (AdaptWell), while Augustina Tucker from SMU (Maison Lumiere) and Emmanuel Mbachu from NSCC (Profine) received third-place awards.

For Riya Ralli, the experience provided a roadmap for turning an idea into action.

"I can't recommend the Summer Entrepreneurship Experience Bootcamp enough. In just eight sessions, it covered the full arc of starting a business. It all builds toward a pitch competition with real funding and mentorship on the line."

Narimene Djamai said the program reshaped how she approaches entrepreneurship.

"It doesn't hand you a roadmap; it teaches you how to navigate uncertainty. More than anything, it reminded me that entrepreneurship isn't reserved for people who already have all the answers; it's for people who are willing to keep learning."

By the end of the five weeks, participants had gained far more than just pitch decks. They left with validated business ideas, practical entrepreneurial skills, expanded professional networks and the confidence to continue building ventures that contribute to Nova Scotia's growing innovation ecosystem.

Interested in learning more about the SEE program or what other programs the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre has to offer? Check out the website.

Saint Mary’s athletes make a splash at Halifax U23 World Paddle Championships

Students highlight support from professors during their demanding training schedule

If you noticed a busier-than-usual Canada Day celebration week this year, you weren’t imagining it.

642 athletes from 54 nations flocked to Lake Banook in Dartmouth for the 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, which took place July 1-5 in the HRM, bringing their A-game to a series of canoe and kayak events that brought the best of the best against each other to fight for gold on Canadian waters.

With singles, doubles and relays across multiple distances for both canoe and kayak athletes, there was no shortage of action at the championships – and Saint Mary’s athletes demanded attention throughout.

Alex Erith Ellwood, Brianna Smith, Duncan Giles and Ian Gaudet represented the university on the world stage—each one a talented athlete chasing their goals on the water while pursuing their education right here on the East Coast.

Alex Erith Ellwood
Photo: ICF - Canada

Alex Erith Ellwood

Diploma in Engineering

The championship event marked the fourth international competition for SMU Engineering’s Alex Erith Ellwood, where he competed in the K2 500 meter, the K4 500 meter, and the mixed relay with fellow SMU engineering student Brianna Smith.

Alex qualified for worlds by placing Top 5 in Canada for the men’s 500 meter at national tryouts earlier this year. No stranger to competition travel, it was a real treat to compete here at home.

“It’s always cool to be able to go away and see other countries, but there’s always a time difference and new surroundings to get used to. It was great to be at home and comfortable on our own lake.”

Balancing his education with his travel schedule is no easy feat, but SMU profs have gone above and beyond every step of the way to make sure his goals are met on the water and in the classroom.

“I remember discussing my schedule with a prof in first year, and there was one calculus course that he recommended taking in the spring to accommodate my winter training camp. Little things like that make it easier to help balance everything.”

Alex isn’t slowing down anytime soon, as he immediately went on to the Canoe Sprint World Cup in Montreal on July 9-12, where he was able to get on the water with the Canadian senior men’s team to launch the next chapter of his athletic career.

Brianna Smith
Photo: ICF - Canada

Brianna Smith

Diploma in Engineering

Brianna Smith has been competing on the world stage since her late teens, competing at the ICF Olympic Hopes when she was 17 years old. In addition to pursuing her Diploma in Engineering at Saint Mary’s and travelling internationally to compete, she spends her summers coaching younger athletes to get them ready for the U16 category, when athletes start competing nationally to make international teams.

With two previous world championships under her belt, competing in a third here at home was a chance to show her community exactly what she’s made of:

“A bunch of the kids I coach were volunteering at the event or came to watch the races. That was a great experience for them, because they don’t usually get to see their coaches race. It’s cool for them to see what I do.”

During the school year, Brianna pursues her engineering diploma and is a member of the Engineering Society, while coaching the masters group at her club—all while prioritizing her own competition training.

“I went to SMU because of the smaller class sizes, so I could make deeper connections with my professors. When I had to miss classes to accommodate my training and competition schedule, it was easier to communicate with them.”

Duncan Giles and team
Photo: ICF - Canada

Ian Gaudet
Photo: ICF - Canada

Duncan Giles

BComm in Finance

Entering his third year at Saint Mary’s, Duncan is a recipient of the Sobey National Innovator Scholarship. When choosing a university, Duncan’s goal was to pursue his business education while continuing to train at the national and international level, and SMU offered the flexibility he needed to thrive as a student-athlete.

That academic flexibility has been a game-changer for him, as during the winter months, he completes online courses while travelling for three-month training blocks away from home, supported by professors who understand the demands of high-performance sport.

“I really like the community here at Saint Mary's,” says Giles. “Everybody feels important, and the professors are really flexible and understanding with my training schedule, which helps me balance all my responsibilities.”

At the world championships on Lake Banook, Giles competed in the four-person 500-meter event, helping guide his boat to a strong fifth-place finish. He’s looking forward to focusing on finance when he returns in the fall.

Duncan isn’t the only international competitor in his family. His dad, Stephen Giles, has multiple world championships under his belt in the same sport and received a Bronze Medal in the C-1 1000m event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.  

Ian Gaudet

BSc in Earth Science

“This was the first international competition I’ve gotten to do in Canada,” says Earth Science student Ian Gaudet. “Usually we have to deal with rental boats that aren’t our own. We have to deal with checking into hotels and long flights and dealing with the strain of jet lag and all that comes with international travel. So, to actually have the advantage of being at home and competing on our home lake was a big advantage for us.”

Gaudet delivered impressive performances on the water, placing sixth in the world in K4 500-meter kayak event. Following the world championships here in Dartmouth, he competed at the historic Olympic Basin in Montreal—the venue’s first international event since the 1976 Summer Olympics.

“I've been training and racing at the Olympic Basin since I was quite young, so it was really cool to be able to race with the Maple Leaf on my chest on home waters.”

Training for national kayak teams is a year-round commitment; when local lakes freeze over in the winter, he travels south to San Diego with the Canadian National Team to keep paddling, and the supports available in the Faculty of Science allow Ian to continue pursuing his academic goals while maintaining his competitive edge on the water.

Read more about Ian on the ICF website.

A World without limits, for athletes and beyond

Halifax is home to nationally acclaimed aquatics clubs, providing a rich environment for former and future Olympians to get the experience they need to make waves in the world. Saint Mary’s provides a space for these athletes to do what they do best—on the water and in the classroom.

Growth Pod celebrates a year of connecting student founders with industry experts

Starting a business is exciting, but knowing what steps to take next can be challenging. For student entrepreneurs, having access to the right guidance at the right time can make all the difference. 

That’s where the Growth Pod Advisor Team comes in. 

Launched in August 2025 by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University, the Growth Pod is a free one-on-one virtual mentoring program designed to connect student founders with experienced industry professionals who can help them navigate the challenges of building a venture. 

Through personalized one-hour advising sessions, entrepreneurs are matched with advisors based on their specific needs, whether they are looking for support with sales strategy, marketing, accounting, product development, technology or funding. 

During its first year as a pilot program, the Growth Pod quickly demonstrated the demand for accessible, practical mentorship. The program supported more than 30 Saint Mary’s student entrepreneurs and facilitated over 90 advisor-entrepreneur meetings, creating meaningful connections between emerging founders and professionals who have real-world experience building businesses. 

The Growth Pod Advisor Team now includes 10 experienced advisors with expertise spanning seven key areas. By connecting students directly with industry practitioners, the program helps bridge the gap between having an idea and developing a sustainable business. Advisors include Nithin Eapen, Teo Kim, Nabila Mahabub, Manish Shinde, Kent Murphy, Pranay Malusare, Jonas Slaunwhite BComm’12, Federico Cetraro and Ghazaleh Afrahi, each bringing unique industry knowledge and experience to support student founders. 

Nabila Mahabub, Marketing and Branding expert, says “One of the best parts of being involved has been meeting so many people with fresh ideas who are looking for a way to take them into the world, and if you're a startup trying to find your footing, I think the Growth Pod is a really great place to be because you have mentors from marketing, finance, operations, and other areas of business to help you move your company to the next stage." 

For master’s student entrepreneur Conrad Scotchburn BComm’26, the support provided through the Growth Pod has helped strengthen his entrepreneurial journey. 

“My experience with the Growth Pod has been really valuable. I’ve genuinely felt more supported throughout the process; it’s made a real difference knowing there are people and resources in my corner. The advisors have also given me great insights and practical advice on improvements I can make across all levels of the business.” 

As the Growth Pod continues to grow, the program remains focused on creating more opportunities for student entrepreneurs to access the knowledge, connections and support they need to move their ideas forward. 

Interested in learning more about the Growth Pod and how you can get involved? Visit the program page to explore available advising opportunities and connect with the resources available to help grow your venture. 

BComm student selected one of 10 Outstanding Leaders in Canada

Simone Boudreau’s accomplishments include founding CycleStrong

Sobey School of Business students are known for their high-performance in awards and competitions across the globe, so when it came time to nominate a student for the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership, there was plenty of competition. In the end, Simone Boudreau stood out for her academic strength and commitment to community.

“Simone brought so many achievements to the table. Her exceptional experience in leadership and her academic performance made her an excellent candidate,” said Dr. Michel Delorme, Dean of the Sobey School. “The Sobey School of Business’ reputation led to our school being selected to nominate a student; the quality of our students, in turn, builds our reputation even more.”

In May, while her classmates were walking across the convocation stage, Simone was in Toronto as one of just ten students across Canada to receive this prestigious scholarship.

Simone, fifth from right, at the Futures Fund Scholarship Awards Gala in Toronto

“The Futures Fund was an unreal experience, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the memories I created,” said Simone.

Established by Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year®, the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership recognizes business students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership through their academic achievements and extracurricular involvement.

Each year, ten Canadian business schools are selected to participate, with each school nominating a student whose leadership, initiative, and impact distinguish them among their peers.

With a cumulative GPA of over 4.0, Simone will graduate in September with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Economics with a Certificate in Sports Business. She was active in the Commerce Society, Enactus and the Women in Business society, and she served on the Board of Directors for Sail Able Nova Scotia, a learn-to-sail organization for people with disabilities. Most recently, she founded CycleStrong, an initiative focused on helping female athletes better understand injury risk and training through menstrual cycle tracking, with goals to help close the gap in women’s sport science research.

The trip to the Futures Fund event was about more than networking. The candidates engaged with experiential learning and enjoyed access to leaders from companies such as Deloitte, Caldwell, Canadian Tire, Air Canada and more.

“I was able to connect with some of the most inspiring leaders in Canadian business and learn from their experiences through workshops and discussions, and I shared this experience with nine other remarkable students from universities across Canada. We were able to learn from each other throughout the program.

It was an incredible opportunity to expand my perspective, build meaningful connections, and bring new ideas and inspiration back to my career and academics.”

— Simone Boudreau

Simone is currently working as an event coordinator with the Halifax Regional Municipality and plans to continue working in tourism and events. She will graduate this fall and plans to further her education with a master's degree in public policy or applied economics.

Mapping the system: Beyond the waitlist

Jonah Crowther, Katie Brooks, Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter and Luke Pound represented the Sobey School of Business at Map the System in the UK

Sobey MBA Team recognized for mapping Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage

Last week, a team of Sobey MBA students received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award in a competition called Map the System (MTS), held at Oxford University, UK. It was the first time a Saint Mary’s University team had entered the competition. Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter, Luke Pound, Jonah Crowther and Katie Brooks analysed and presented on the systems around Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage.

Founded in 2016, the Map the System competition, held at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, builds a community of practitioners, educators and students around systems thinking, an approach to entrenched and intractable social and environmental problems that examines both mitigating and exacerbating factors. The competition stands apart from most others in that participating teams are not tasked with building solutions and recommendations. Instead, they are evaluated on how well they have mapped and analysed the contributing factors to a problem, their ability to translate data into a compelling story, and their understanding of root causes and potential leverage points for change.

The team received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award for their analysis of the Nova Scotia family physician shortage

In the SMU team’s analysis, some of the factors were immigration trends, rural versus urban realities, career perceptions of family medicine, public expectations, burnout and isolation. During the analysis, retention of doctors and perceptions about the attractiveness of family medicine as a career option appeared as weaker areas in the system.

In addition to traditional research, Anna said, “We got to listen to a lot of different perspectives throughout our entire project, whether they were from different organizations or different levels within the organization, but they all helped reveal something different about the system we were looking into, which we may have overlooked if we didn't reach out to them.”

Systems thinking in MBA

Annika Voltan teaches an MBA course called Sustainable Change Leadership, where she introduces systems thinking as an essential skill for future leaders. This past winter, students in her class participated in the campus-level Map the System competition.

In reflecting on why she feels that systems thinking and systems mapping are so important, she noted: "In today's busy world, we're often evaluated based on efficiency and productivity measures, which leads us to jump into solutions when faced with problems. But the complex challenges we're facing require deeper understanding of contributing factors, power dynamics and interconnections if we're going to be able to shift toward better outcomes. Systems thinking is increasingly being recognized as an essential skill set for navigating the wicked problems of our time."

Camaraderie and support

The team were impressed by the collegial and supportive atmosphere associated with the competition, all the way through. They received advice and encouragement from several Sobey professors, as well as from staff at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Executive and Professional Development. MTS assigned the team three judges. Here in Halifax, they connected with a health researcher named Sam Petrie who competed at MTS in 2020. The others were Ishaw Sharma (Toronto) and Mariana Cardenas Marquez (Montreal). Even the judges were supportive, said Katie: “They were rooting for you to succeed in the questioning. They wanted to give you the opportunity to share more, if you missed anything and really show your understanding.”

Jonah added that after complimenting another team on their presentation, that team commented about the SMU team being all MBA students. Jonah said, “I kind of took a step back and thought, wow, they view almost us as the experts.” While the team may not be experts in healthcare, they were the people in the room who knew the most about the Nova Scotia healthcare system, thanks to their research and analysis.

Coming into the competition, Julia noted they had expected it to be intense and perhaps more rigid. “The camaraderie that we all felt, the gratitude that was in the room for everyone being there was super cool to experience.”

The team is excited to share their report findings at Lead With Purpose Day in November

Looking forward

Looking ahead, the team is excited for another SMU team to participate next year so they can share some of what they learned.

“How do you even articulate to the class that comes in next year? Like, how do you get people to feel like we feel right now about it, because we're so in it,” said Katie.  Anna noted they hadn’t expected the breadth or complexity of some of the issues being mapped.

The passion and storytelling of the finalist teams made a strong impression on Jonah. “I think what I really appreciated was not just learning about the issues happening in those countries, but also just seeing the passion they brought when they were presenting on those topics.”

What happens now with the report? They will be bringing it to the PRME research expo at the Sobey School of Business’ Lead With Purpose Day on November 20. Katie says, “You can do a lot with this. So many people in the community now want to read our report and our findings.”

For the birds: Star student researchers study European starlings

European starlings are banded and studied by biology students on SMU campus

Dr. Colleen Barber and student researchers

Nest boxes can be seen around campus

For 20 years, Dr. Colleen Barber has been using a long-term study on European starlings to teach her students research skills

The Saint Mary’s University campus in Halifax’s south end is the perfect location for an interesting long-term research project on birds—specifically European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which thrive in urban settings. There are more than 40 nest boxes scattered across the campus.

Dr. Colleen Barber has been guiding her biology students in conducting research on these resilient birds for more than 20 years. They have produced theses and published papers on the effects of climate change on this species, its songs, mate choice, parental investment, and the types and abundance of garbage found in its nests.

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European starlings are not native to Nova Scotia but have been here for more than 100 years. They have adapted well to urban living, creating nests from natural and anthropogenic materials, including plastics and other litter.

“We have discovered that European starlings have many reproductive strategies—they have a very dynamic mating system,” says Dr. Barber. 

“Some nestlings belong to both parents who are feeding them (within-pair young), while other nestlings genetically belong only to the mom or dad (extra-pair maternity or paternity), and some nestlings don’t genetically belong to either parent (intraspecific brood parasitism).”

Dr. Barber’s students have used campus nest boxes to research why the starlings use garbage and feathers in their nests. Others have studied why male starlings mimic the calls of blue jays, chickadees, crows and sirens. Student teams have also examined the effects of ectoparasites that live on the birds’ skin and feathers.

Students take their first set of measurements when the nestlings are five days old. They measure the birds’ size and weight and take small blood samples to determine parentage through DNA microsatellite analysis. They return to the nest boxes when the nestlings are 11 days old, taking the same measurements to record growth rate. They also capture the parents to band and measure them and to take a small blood sample.

The research is interesting—this species is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine,” displaying the effects of climate change in its nesting, reproductive strategies and breeding success.

Dr. Barber is a calm, reassuring presence as she instructs students in taking careful measurements, banding the birds’ legs, and recording data. For her, teaching students how to do research is the overarching goal of the project.

“Seeing my students become sure of themselves as researchers—learning to do the research and interpret their results accurately is gratifying as a teacher and a mentor,” says Dr. Barber.

SMU in the news:

From supporting founders to becoming one: David Campbell BComm’24

David Campbell BComm’24

For David, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. In fact, he says he never considered himself a naturally entrepreneurial person. But after spending years surrounded by founders and innovative ideas at Saint Mary's University, his mindset began to change.

Today, David works at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, where he supports student founders and helps create entrepreneurship programming. Outside of work, he's building his own startup, Recordium, alongside co-founders Harpreet Jaggi, an experienced B2B sales professional, and Max Mascini, a Dalhousie University master's student specializing in AI ethics, neuroscience and machine learning.

The team recently received a major boost after being accepted into the AI2Market Launch incubator, earning $10,000 in funding to help bring their business to life.

Recordium was born from a real-world problem. After hearing about the challenges Harpreet faced while attending sales conferences, the team realized that many professionals invest significant time and money into events without having the tools to prepare effectively or capture valuable conversations afterward.

David and Harpreet, Co-Founders of Recordium

"There's no real system for remembering who you spoke to, following up or learning from those interactions," David explains.

That's why the team is developing a comprehensive conference assistant that helps users prepare before events, identify the right people to meet and use AI-powered note-taking and CRM updates throughout the day.

For David, building Recordium has reinforced many of the lessons he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs every day.

Working at the Entrepreneurship Centre taught him the importance of validating a problem before investing time into building a solution. Now, experiencing customer discovery, product pivots and pitching firsthand has also made him a stronger mentor for students.

“I’m now able to help students by using my lived experience,” he says.

David’s previous ventures included a drive-thru wood-fired pizza business

His own entrepreneurial journey has included previous ventures, from a drive-thru wood-fired pizza concept to a woodworking business. While neither succeeded in the long term, each experience taught valuable lessons and helped build confidence to pursue his latest venture.

Looking ahead, the Recordium team is focused on getting the platform into the hands of sales professionals who regularly attend conferences and networking events. With support from AI2Market Launch and fresh funding behind them, they're eager to discover where the product can create the greatest impact.

David's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: talk to people before you build anything.

"The actual problem people are facing starts to emerge quickly when you're having real conversations," he says. "And just start, even if you think the idea is bad or you don't fully believe in yourself yet. What you learn along the way will be well worth it."

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports entrepreneurs like Recordium. 

Saint Mary’s students turn a simple idea into a smarter way to save energy

What started as a conversation during Saint Mary’s University Welcome Weeks is quickly becoming a promising sustainability venture. 

FLIK, an Enactus Saint Mary’s project founded by first-year commerce students, Cooper Roberts and Brady Flynn, aims to help homes and businesses reduce energy waste through smart technology that automatically manages electricity usage. The idea was sparked after team members attended a presentation about Earth Overshoot Day during Welcome Weeks, which highlights how humanity consumes natural resources faster than the planet can regenerate them. 

“We wanted to create something that could actually make an impact,” said co-founder Cooper. “A lot of people were talking about using fewer resources, but we wanted to build a solution.” 

That solution became FLIK, a system that combines smart outlets, light switches, bulbs and motion sensors to monitor and manage energy use throughout a building. The goal is simple: help people save money while reducing unnecessary electricity consumption. 

For the team, the inspiration also came from everyday experiences. One founder recalled growing up around hockey arenas where motion-sensor lights would sometimes turn off while players sat quietly tying their skates. Another admitted to frequently forgetting to turn off lights and electronics at home. 

A FLIK unit

Unlike many existing smart-home products that focus on convenience, FLIK is designed with sustainability and affordability at its core. The system would allow users to customize how appliances and electronics respond when rooms are unoccupied. For example, lights and televisions could automatically turn off after a set period of inactivity, while essential appliances such as refrigerators or slow cookers continue running uninterrupted.

The platform would also provide detailed energy-tracking data, helping users understand exactly how much electricity individual devices consume, information that traditional utility bills rarely provide. 

The idea has already attracted attention. The team has spoken with more than 11 businesses during its market research phase, many of which have expressed strong interest in the product. With support from Saint Mary’s professors, the students are currently refining their minimum viable product and working toward securing letters of intent from potential customers. 

As FLIK continues to grow, the team is encouraging others to follow along on their Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Interested in learning more about how entrepreneurship can blend with other areas of study? Explore programs and events at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Sociology grad receives prestigious SSHRC Research Scholarship

Sarah Delorme BA’26

Sarah Delorme, a Sociology Honours graduate from Saint Mary's University, was recently awarded a $27,000 Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS-M) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The scholarship will support her Master of Arts in Sociology at Concordia University beginning in Fall 2026. In addition, Sarah has been awarded a $6,000 Graduate Special Entrance Scholarship from Concordia University.

After completing the first two years of her Bachelor of Arts at Laurentian University in Ontario, Sarah transferred to Saint Mary's University, where she became deeply involved in academic and campus life. She first served as Secretary and later as Co-President of the SMU Sociology Society, helping to organize both small- and large-scale events for students.

Sarah also gained valuable research experience through several projects. She worked as a research assistant and newsletter assistant editor for the GBV-MIG Canada Research Program under the supervision of Dr. Evangelia Tastsoglou, contributing to research on gender-based violence and migration. Her broad interest in sociological issues also led her to work as a research assistant on Dr. Rui Hou's research on digital mental health interventions for Asian immigrant youth and on Dr. Pauline Hoebanx's research exploring misogynistic online movements.

Beyond her academic work, Sarah has contributed to the Saint Mary's community in numerous roles, including as a Sociology Teaching Assistant, Assistant for the Sobey School of Business Research Newsletter, Secretary of the SMUSA Board of Directors, Game Day Ticketing staff with Athletics & Recreation, and Peer Notetaker for the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility.

A consistent Dean's Honour List student, Sarah received a Bursary Award in 2022 and an Academic Excellence Award in 2023 from Laurentian University. At Saint Mary's University, she earned an Academic Achievement Award and several other merit awards. In 2026, she was awarded the Outstanding Graduating Sociology Student Award by the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA).

Inspired by her work with the GBV-MIG project, Sarah completed her Honours thesis on the resilience of migrant and refugee women who have experienced gender-based violence in migration contexts.

Sarah at Convocation in May 2026

Reflecting on the award, Sarah said she is grateful for the opportunities and mentorship she received throughout her time at Saint Mary's.

"Receiving this scholarship is incredibly exciting and affirming. My experiences at Saint Mary's gave me the opportunity to explore a wide range of sociological topics, work alongside inspiring faculty members, and contribute to research that addresses important social issues. Through those experiences, I discovered a passion for research and a desire to better understand how people navigate complex challenges. I'm excited to continue that work at Concordia and build on the foundation I developed at Saint Mary's."

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou, Professor of Sociology cross-appointed in Political Science and Global Development Studies, said Sarah's success reflects both her academic abilities and her commitment to meaningful research.

Dr. Evie Tastsoglou

"Sarah has distinguished herself through her intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and commitment to understanding issues that affect marginalized communities. Whether as a student, research assistant, or campus leader, she has consistently demonstrated thoughtfulness, professionalism, and a desire to make a positive contribution. This SSHRC award is a well-deserved recognition of her achievements and potential as a scholar."

As she prepares to begin her master's studies at Concordia University, Sarah looks forward to continuing her research and contributing to important conversations in sociology. Her achievements reflect a strong commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and meaningful social research.

Automating for the future

Michael Toner has a restless drive to streamline and improve data analysis through AI automation

When Michael Toner completed his Screen Arts and Cultures degree at the University of Michigan, he didn’t anticipate that every job he would get would end up being about data.

The Los Angeles native says, “Whether it was ingesting footage for reality TV, mapping demographics for the city, or managing financial accounts at LA Metro, I kept finding myself automating the work and eventually realized that was the part I actually loved.”

He set out to identify a Master’s program that would let him focus on the intersection of business and data. A factor he had to consider was that he did not have a traditional STEM background, something many programs were looking for.

The Sobey Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) program was the right fit for Michael.

“Saint Mary's stood out in a narrow field. Only a handful of universities offer an MBAN program — most institutions go the MBA or Master of Data Science route,” says Michael. He plans to pursue a career in financial automation. He notes, “Financial data is unusually clean and structured compared to most domains, which means someone with the right skills can move fast and have real impact. And the demand is everywhere. Every company has a finance function.”

Testing his mettle

During the program, Michael has enjoyed competition opportunities to explore his enhanced skillset with coding and AI, developing promising innovative solutions for long-term intractable problems like food insecurity and emergency department wait times.

“At RBC Hubhacks, my team built an AI-powered financial engineering solution for food insecurity in Nova Scotia. We did well enough that we were invited to present to Halifax Partnership and then to Feed Nova Scotia directly. At CGI Datajam, we placed third out of 30 teams with an AI screening tool that cut emergency department wait times by roughly two hours per patient.”

Bringing automation to research insights

In January 2026, professor Chantal Hervieux hired Toner to work with the Centre for Leadership Excellence as a research assistant. CLE had built a relationship with a company called TrendAI, which was looking for background and industry research. TrendAI is an AI-powered demand planning and supply chain tool aimed at small to medium fashion retailers in Canada. It was founded by longtime friends, one with a background in textile manufacturing, the other in software-as-a-service.

Michael describes his research assistant role this way: “I ran background research on the Canadian fashion industry to identify TrendAI's best point of entry, surveyed small and medium enterprises, and from that built the product specifications, business model, development roadmap, and pathway to profitability.”

The survey was challenging. Response rates were so low, Michael needed thousands of contacts to reach statistical significance. When databases available through the library were insufficient, he created a solution: “I wrote Python to pull contacts from the Google Maps API and ended up with about 6,500 emails. The takeaway I'll carry forward is to think about response rates and outreach scale upfront, and to reach for technical solutions earlier rather than grinding manually.  Automating outreach was the only way the research worked at all.”

A glimpse of the future

High school students participated in SMU’s AI co-op

Michael shares that there was a surprise for him in the research. “I interviewed three Canadian business owners running operations out of their garages with fewer than five employees. Twenty years ago, that same output would have required a hundred people. The headline finding from the surveys was that AI is acting as an equalizing force for small businesses, not a threat — and these three were proof. That's the future I want to help build.”

He is already working on building the future – last winter, he was one of the MBAN students who taught a cohort of high school co-op students about AI. Michael is currently doing an internship with JD Irving in Saint John while completing his degree. He will graduate next winter.