Professor Alexander MacLeod tours with prestigious British literary magazine

Dr. MacLeod speaking at the Shalespeare and Company event.

Saint Mary's professor Alexander MacLeod, of the Department of English Language & Literature, spent part of the past month on tour in England and France with Granta, the prestigious British literary magazine, as it promotes its special Canada issue.

Dr. MacLeod—whose 2010 story collection Light Lifting was nominated for both a Giller Prize and a Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award—has a new short story entitled “Lagomorph” in Granta 141: Canada. His work shared space in the issue with other Canadian writers including Falen Johnson and Catherine Leroux, with whom he appeared at London’s Canada House and Paris’ Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

On November 22, the group visited the renowned Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris.

Macleod's story, Lagomorph, is featured in the current issue Granta 141: Canada.

“The trip has been amazing so far,” said Dr. MacLeod, who was able to spend the night in Shakespeare and Company’s storied guest room, used in years past by writers from Samuel Beckett to the Beats.

Maclean’s Brian Bethune wrote about Granta’s Canada issue, singling out Dr. MacLeod’s contribution as “suspenseful, moving, and…hilarious.”

Related

• Unravelling Atlantic Canada on the Arts with Impact site.
• MacLeod's story collection Light Lifting was a shortlisted nominee for the 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize,[1] and the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.

Research symposium discusses impacts of changing demographics in Atlantic Canada

Break out sessions

Ian MacDonald, Chair of CARP NS

Interview with Global Television

Keynote speaker: Dr. Suzanne Cook, York University

Dr. Cook is a thought leader on work and aging.

A discussion on the future of work and housing in Atlantic Canada is underway today at Saint Mary’s University. The Impact of Demographic Shift on the Future of Work and Housing in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia perspective) is a one-day research symposium to discuss the future of work and housing in Atlantic Canada in light of the region's aging population. 

Keynote speakers include:

• Simon D’Entremont, Deputy Minister, Nova Scotia Department of Seniors
• Dr. Suzanne Cook, York University

The event also features two panels of experts, who bring years of experience to the discussion.

Panel on the Future of Work

• Dr. Karen Foster,  Dalhousie University
• Thomas Storring, Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury
• Jo-anne Stone, The Stone Group
• Ian MacDonald, Volunteer Chair CARP N.S.
• Moderator: Terry Murphy, Saint Mary’s University

Panel on the Future of Housing

• Dr. Martha MacDonald, Saint Mary’s University
• Jillian MacLellan, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Benjamin Nycum, Nycum William & Associates
• Kevin Hooper, United Way Halifax
• Moderator: Ian Munro, Halifax Partnership

Similar events are planned in NB, PEI, and NL. Based on the proceedings of these events, the Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging, and Diversity will prepare a report to be released in the coming months.

Sino-Canadian Trade Summit at Saint Mary's

Trade experts, government officials, business executives and researchers came together on Thursday, November 16th, to discuss trade between China and Nova Scotia at Saint Mary’s University. The summit provided a platform for the exploration of trade and business relationships between Nova Scotia and China, as well as enhancing educational and cultural understanding.

Dr. Ye Jianming, Dean of the School of Management, Xiamen University, China

Minister Counsellor Xia Xang, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Canada

Centre: Honourable Tony, Nova Scotia MLA for Cole Harbour-Portland Valley

Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor, Saint Mary's University

Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority & Chair, Board of  Governors, Saint Mary’s University, with Minister and Counsellor Xia Xang, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Canada

Minister and Counsellor Xia Xang, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, with Dean Pat Bradshaw, Sobey School of Business

Ian Smith, CEO at Clearwater Seafoods

Bruce Chapman, General Manager, Northern Pulp Nova Scotia with Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority & Chair, Board of  Governors, Saint Mary’s University

Maria Pan, Director, Confucius Institute at Saint Mary’s University

Kelliann Dean, Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs, Nova Scotia Government with Christine Yang, International Relations Officer, Intergovernmental Affairs, Nova Scotia Government

William Allaway, CEO and Owner, Acadian Maple Products

Dr. Stephen Jones, CEO, 4Deep

Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority

Speakers and presenters included:

• Dr. Prof. Ye Jianmin, Dean of the School of Management, Xiamen University will attend as the designated representative of the President of Xiamen University
• Karen Oldfield, President & CEO, Halifax Port Authority
• Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University
• Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority
• William Allaway, CEO and Owner, Acadian Maple Products
• Ian Smith, CEO, Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership
• Dr. Stephen Jones, CEO, 4Deep

 The goals of the summit were to:

• Celebrate existing trade relations between Nova Scotia and China
• Explore ways to grow bilateral trade
• Build mutual understanding and cultural appreciation across cultures

Speakers included experts in international trade, Canadian and Chinese government representatives, and local business leaders with trade experience.

The Nova Scotia Sino-Canadian Trade Summit was a partnership between Saint Mary’s University, the Confucius Institute at Saint Mary’s University, and the Sobey School of Business.

ACOA Invests $300k into business growth and startup programming

See the original story at http://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/bdc-funding-announcement-2017.html

Two students recognized with inaugural Fred and Nali George Scholarships

Fred George, Mariah Williams, Nali George, Susan Summerby-Murray, Jake Arsenault, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

Students at Saint Mary’s University are already benefiting from a generous gift from Dr. Fred and Mrs. Nali George. Fred George received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Saint Mary’s in 2011 and is the recipient of a Saint Mary’s Distinguished Community Service Award. He and his wife, Nali, are dedicated philanthropists who share the University’s commitment to global awareness and social responsibility.

Jake Arsenault

“I am very grateful to be the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship,” said fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student, Jake Arsenault. “It’s a great honour to be acknowledged by such an accomplished and generous family. This award will certainly alleviate some of the financial stress I experience as a full-time student with my own business.” 

A 5th generation woodworker who was born and raised in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Arsenault launched a business while taking a Sobey School of Business course called Structuring the Startup. His company, Creative Urban Timber, is focused on repurposing Nova Scotian trees into beautiful tables and other unique creations.

Mariah Williams

As the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies, fourth year Geology major Mariah Williams is also the beneficiary of the George family’s generosity. “I am extremely grateful for the George family’s philanthropy and support and very honoured to see my hard work rewarded in this way,” said Williams. “In addition to helping me balance a heavy academic workload with part time employment as a research assistant, this award will afford me the time to engage in co-curricular activities and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.”

In addition to maintaining top marks in her Bachelor of Science program, Williams serves as Vice-President of the Saint Mary’s University D. Hope Simpson Geology Society. Last summer she worked as a Geo technician in the Yukon on the exploration site at Triumph Gold: an experience she hopes to use as the basis for her Honours project in deposit exploration.

“I am delighted to see these new endowed scholarships having an impact on such promising young people,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Fred and Nali George are valued members of the Saint Mary’s community. Thanks to their generosity, our students will go on to do remarkable things.”

The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student in the Sobey School of Business who has declared a major in either Entrepreneurship or Global Business Management. The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who is enrolled at Saint Mary's University in a major or honours program in Geology, with preference given to students in the BSc combined Geology and Business Program.

Saint Mary's statements regarding Football, Loney Bowl

Updated March 14, 2018

Saint Mary’s and U Sports reach joint settlement on eligibility

March 14, 2018

Saint Mary’s University and U Sports, the national sport governing body of university sport in Canada, are pleased to announce a joint settlement regarding football player eligibility for the fall 2017 season.

“Reaching a mutual settlement is an important step forward for our football players, coaches and supporters,” said Margaret Murphy, Associate Vice-President, External Affairs. “Saint Mary’s is pleased that U Sports has agreed to honour our agreement of October 27, 2017, in accordance with the ruling of the Ontario Superior Court.”

As part of this settlement, U Sports acknowledges that there was previously an agreement made with Saint Mary’s in October 2017 that resolved the player eligibility question and where both organizations agreed to work together to address ambiguity in U Sports eligibility rules moving forward.

Saint Mary’s goal has always been to ensure that there is equity and fair play for everyone in the AUS and Canadian varsity athletics. In order to achieve this, we believe there must be collaboration between the AUS, its members and the national organization. We will continue to seek every opportunity to collaborate with the AUS and U Sports to ensure rule clarity and its equitable application, to the benefit of everyone involved.

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Saint Mary's University is pleased with the prompt action of the Supreme Court

November 12, 2017

Saint Mary's University is pleased with the prompt action of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the decision of Associate Chief Justice Deborah Smith. The decision reinstates the Loney Bowl, the final game in the AUS Conference that determines the conference champion.

Saint Mary's reaffirms our position that the player eligibility question was put to rest and there isn’t and hasn’t been any impediment to Saint Mary’s position to play in the Loney Bowl. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has seen fit to recognize the importance of the university football season to players, coaches, support staff, Faculty and alumni in the Atlantic Region and across Canada. We are pleased that the Court has agreed with our position that the game should proceed. We are ready to play. We look forward to the game on Tuesday.

General John de Chastelain talks peace at Saint Mary's

General John de Chastelain, former head of the Canadian Armed Forces, former Canadian Ambassador to the US, and honorary degree recipient from Saint Mary's University, spoke Nov. 9 at the McNally Auditorium.

General de Chastelain discussed his time as Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in Northern Ireland and the role he played in the decommissioning of Irish Republican and pro-British Loyalist paramilitary weapons and explosives.

The event was endorsed by Peaceful Schools International.

SMU makes the podium at international portfolio competition

Saint Mary’s University is proud to recognize the great work of Stephanie Fitzner, Amaan Popatiya, Jarrett Leach, and Jordan Logan who made the podium in the prestigious 2017 McGill International Portfolio Challenge. This IMPACT team of undergraduate students ranked 3rd among more than 60 competing teams from universities including: Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California Berkeley and the University of Toronto.

In the presentation, the Saint Mary’s team had ten minutes to provide sound investment advice for a real-world challenge:  how to rebalance the defined benefits pension plan of a lumber company in British Columbia. After a great presentation, the team finished in third place and received a $7500 prize.

The McGill International Portfolio Challenge is the first international competition targeting innovative portfolio design and asset management. It is truly unique in its mandate to shift the focus of academic competitions to the buy-side and to provide students with more visibility on opportunities therein. The challenge bridges the gap between students with a demonstrated interest in asset management and industry leaders.

To be considered for the competition, all teams had to evaluate a case study and submit their solution online. The top teams were selected to participate in a final round in person taking place at McGill University.

Every year the Saint Mary’s team greatly benefits from the volunteer coaching of Ross Hallett, from the Bank of Montreal. The team is directed by Dr. Najah Attig and supported by the Sobey School of Business.

John McCallum, Canada’s Ambassador to China, drops by Saint Mary's

John McCallum, Canada’s Ambassador to China, dropped by Saint Mary's Monday morning to deliver his message that young people, especially students, would benefit from spending time in China.

Recent grad develops app to help Nova Scotians navigate legal system

A new support for Nova Scotians trying to navigate the legal system is now available thanks to the efforts of recent Saint Mary’s University Computer Science graduate Kislay Trivedi.

The Small Claims Court App is designed to assist people representing themselves and considering an action in Small Claims Court. Available on the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) website, the app provides clear and easy-to-understand legal information for self-represented individuals navigating the Small Claims Court and processes.

“Our goal at LISNS is that individuals dealing with a real or potential legal issue will feel confident and informed through accessing our many offerings, including our telephone help line, online resources and innovative apps, such as the Small Claims Court App,” says LISNS Executive Director Heather de Berdt Romilly. “Research shows that when clearly explained legal information is accessible at an early stage it helps address potential litigation problem areas in a significant majority of cases.”

Gavin Giles, Q.C., the Chief Adjudicator of the Small Claims Court, recognized a need to better assist the many self-represented individuals and reached out to LISNS for its expertise and assistance. With contributions from Adjudicators Eric Slone and W. Augustus Richardson, LISNS turned to Saint Mary’s University alumnus Kislav Trivedi to develop the app.

The app will be part of a pilot project taking place in November at the Small Claims Court in Halifax.  During November, law school students will be available at the courthouse to provide in-person assistance to self-represented litigants. The pilot will help identify the benefit of in-person assistance to using the Small Claims Court app and the findings will inform how public navigator programs are developed for other areas.

Greg Campbell, BSc '76, shares lessons with Science Dean’s List students

2016-2017 Dean’s List students

The Faculty of Science and the Alumni Office recently celebrated the outstanding academic achievements of 2016-2017 Dean’s List students at a reception in McNally Theatre Auditorium.

This year’s guest speaker was Saint Mary’s University alumnus Greg Campbell, who completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1976. Greg shared lessons he learned as a science student and through his career in corporate finance. He stressed the importance of building strong written communication skills, noting that “mastery of the written word is what will separate a good technical specialist from a great one.” 

To qualify for the Dean’s List, science students must have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.67 in the previous academic year. 

Greg Campbell, BSc in Biology ’76

View the Facebook photo gallery.

2017 Arts Dean's List students recognized at key ceremony

2017 Dean's List students with Dean of Arts Margaret MacDonald and Eric Miller (center front)

Eric Miller

Each year, Saint Mary's recognizes Arts students with high academic standing by placing them on the Dean’s List and presenting them with a symbolic key.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have taken at least 30-credit hours during the academic year and achieved a grade point average of at least 3.67.  Dean’s List standing is noted on student transcripts and remain part of their record.

At this year's ceremony, held Thursday, October 26, global polictical consultant Eric Miller BA'93 addressed the students. Miller is president and founder of the Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, and a fellow at the Wilson Center.