Saint Mary's University student-athletes lead charge on campus mental health initiative

Carlie Nugent, student-athlete and SAMHI member; Scott Gray, Director of Athletics & Recreation; and Brent Martindale, student-athlete and SAMHI member. 

Staying mentally healthy during the university years is important – not only when it comes to academic achievement, but also when it comes to athletic success and playing an active role in the community.

With one in five Canadians living with mental illness, the student-athletes at Saint Mary’s University are leading the charge on gaining the knowledge and understanding to best support themselves, their teammates and their university community.

“The mental health and wellbeing of our entire athletics community are incredibly important to us at Saint Mary’s,” said Scott Gray, Saint Mary’s University’s Director of Athletics & Recreation. “We know that student-athletes are incredibly busy and can be a vulnerable population for mental health concerns. That is why we offer many on-campus supports including some great student-lead initiatives.”

A great example of this leadership is demonstrated through the Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative (SAMHI). SAMHI is a country-wide charitable organization dedicated to promoting wellness and mental health. The organization also supports student-athletes who may suffer from mental health concerns or illness.

At Saint Mary’s, student-athletes use the SAMHI model to help their community access resources, increase supportive conversations and get trained on evidence-based educational modules. Currently in its second year on campus, the group also leads fundraising efforts and hosts mental health-related events.

“Having an initiative like SAMHI on campus has allowed students to come together and create a community in which we can talk to each other about the problems we face,” said Carlie Nugent, a fifth-year student-athlete at Saint Mary’s. “We aren’t doctors or counsellors, but we have been trained on how to listen effectively and be better teammates on and off the court.”

Nugent says that by taking the little steps to support each other on campus, the university is making a real change.

“People need to know that they don’t have to suffer in silence,” continued Nugent. “There is always someone willing to listen.”

Provincial ministers meet at Saint Mary's CLARI facility

Robert Summerby Murray, President of Saint Mary's gives a tour of the Atrium to Labi Kousoulis, Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Advanced Education; Richard Brown, Prince Edward Island Minister of Communities, Land and Environment; and Zach Churchill, Nova Scotia Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

Saint Mary's was honoured to host a meeting of members of the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET)  at our CLARI facility today.

The council is an agency comprised of the provincial departments across Atlantic Canada responsible for public and post-secondary education, and its purpose is to enhance cooperation in public and post-secondary education by working together to improve learning, optimize efficiencies and bring added value to provincial initiatives.

"CLARI is an example of the positive change promoted by CAMET. This space allows us to work together across geography, across sectors and across organizations. So it is very fitting you are here."
- Robert Summerby Murray, President of Saint Mary's University

CLARI is a cross-province, multi-post-secondary education partnership designed to support Nova Scotia communities with academic and research expertise, designated spaces and communications technology to address social and economic challenges.

Saint Mary’s researcher receives Human Rights Award for contributions to Accessibility Act

Dr. Linda Campbell

Environmental Science professor Dr. Linda Campbell and fellow members of the Bill 59 Community Alliance recently received a 2017 Nova Scotia Human Rights Award in recognition of their contributions to Bill 59, otherwise known as the Accessibility Act.

“I was and still am honoured to be a part of this process, working with a truly impressive group of advocates and lawyers,” said Dr. Campbell. “I am really glad that the Alliance's work is getting recognized publicly.  I also want to thank Saint Mary’s Faculty of Science for their support as I worked on this important legislation.”

Presented annually by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Awards acknowledge the work of Nova Scotians who advance human rights at the community level. The Bill 49 Community Alliance helped ensure Bill 59 adequately addressed the needs of Nova Scotians with disabilities through collaboration with the Province.

Earlier this year, their work was recognized with a Mel Hebb Hourglass Action Award from the Partnership for Access Awareness.

Saint Mary's honours the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

Emily Anderson, Vice -President, Peaceful Schools International, Dr. Rohini Banerjee, SMUFU President and Bridget Brownlow, President of Peaceful Schools International

Montreal Memorial Scholarship

Saint Mary's President Robert Summerby-Murray, Civil Engineering student Jessica Giles, SMUSA President Ossama Nasrallah

Students, faculty, and staff came together in remembrance, and to take action, on December 6, 2017, at the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women ceremony held at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery.

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. This day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal.

Jessica Giles, recipient of the Montreal Memorial Scholarship

As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

“Saint Mary’s University stands with the millions of women taking action,” said Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “We do it through our values as an institution. We do it through the programs we offer and the training, such as the consent training and bystander training – now better described as ‘upstander’ training because of the need to empower everyone to stand up. We do this through a clear a code of conduct and a policy for the prevention of sexualized violence. Most importantly, we do this by coming together as a community, focused in purpose, to end violence against women.”

November and December are important months for raising awareness of gender-based violence in Canada and around the world. In addition to the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women takes place on November 25 and marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which ends on December 10, with International Human Rights Day.

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Research symposium discusses impacts of changing demographics in Atlantic Canada

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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.

Ray MacNeil joins Saint Mary's as new CLARI Network Manager

Ray MacNeil

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce that Ray MacNeil has joined the university as our new CLARI Network Manager.  Ray is now finishing his second-week on campus and is a welcome addition to Saint Mary’s and the CLARI network.   

“The CLARI facility here at Saint Mary’s is the heart of the province-wide network,” Dr. Adam J. Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.  “Ray brings decades of experience working in highly productive and collaborative environments to CLARI, and is the right person at the helm as we expand the reach of our change lab.”

A twenty-six-year veteran of the Nova Scotia public service, Ray has spent the last ten years of his career exploring advances in the complexity sciences and their application to improved public services. His work in this area has resulted in consulting requests with a number of other governments and institutions.

In 2016, Ray was honored with the Nova Scotia Public Servant of the Year Award by the Springtide Collective.  In that same year, he retired from the public service and created Organizational Dynamics, a consulting firm dedicated to complexity informed management practices. Ray has remained a regular presenter on issues related to the management and measurement of public services.

CLARI is a cross-province, multi-post-secondary education partnership offering academic and research expertise, designated spaces and communications technology to support Nova Scotia communities in applying stakeholder collaboration techniques and action research toward addressing social and economic challenges.

CLARI’s hub-and-spoke style network spans the province, combining the talents and resources of its six founding partner universities and the Nova Scotia Community College’s 13 campuses. Through CLARI, partners can assist communities in all parts of the province in developing social and economic improvement projects while providing enhanced learning opportunities for students.

Historic all-black line discusses past and future of black athletes in hockey

Damon Kwame Mason, Darrell Maxwell, Bob Dawson, Percy Paris, Willie O'Ree

In 1970, Bob Dawson, Percy Paris, and Darrell Maxwell formed the first all-black line on a Canadian university hockey team. On October 12, the historic linemates revisited their alma mater for an exciting and moving evening looking at the history—and future—of black athletes in hockey, in Nova Scotia and internationally.

The evening included a screening of Soul on Ice: Past, Present, Future, a feature-length documentary about the history, current state of play, and prospects of black hockey players. Filmmaker Damon Kwame Mason was in attendance, along with Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL and currently the league’s Diversity Ambassador.

Following the screening, the former players engaged in a panel discussion, moderated by former CBC sports broadcaster Bruce Rainnie, and shared stories of their youth and early athletic careers, and engaged with contemporary questions around politics, race, and sport.

The event received generous support from the Province of Nova Scotia 150 Forward Fund and, at Saint Mary’s University, the Office of the President, Alumni Affairs, the Department of History, the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health, the Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Culture, and the Atlantic Canada Studies Program.

Enactus Saint Mary’s expand Square Roots Token Program before departure to Enactus World Cup

(Left to Right) King of Donair co-owner Nicholas Nahas; Basha Lebanese co-owner Chico Rashaydeh and his father, Khalas Rashaydeh; the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab; Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray; Ray's Lebanese Cuisine owner Hady Bahliss; and Enactus Saint Mary's co-presidents Meredith Drost and Valerie Caswell. 

Enactus Saint Mary’s students are proving that business and social good can be one in the same. Enactus Saint Mary’s students created the Square Roots Token Program, which aims to help address food insecurity and reduce food waste in the province.

On Tuesday, September 19th, the newest restaurant to take part in their Square Roots Token Program was announced. King of Donair’s four locations on Quinpool Road, Lacewood Drive, Windmill Road and Sackville Drive, join pioneer restaurants Basha Lebanese on Inglis Street, Rys Mediterranean on Spring Garden Road, and Ray’s Lebanese Cuisine in Bayer’s Lake.

“I hate waste, especially when it comes to food which is why I was more than excited to join the Square Roots Token Program,” says Nicholas Nahas, co-owner of King of Donair. “I would love to see greater accessibility for the tokens and more businesses join so that food waste is not even a concern in the city. I believe in this the program and hope it succeeds not only as a business owner but as a graduate of Saint Mary's University.”

Two students holding the Square Roots tokens.

The program works by offering tokens for $5 which can be purchased and given to someone who is known or seen to be in need. The tokens are then redeemable by the recipient for a meal made from surplus food ingredients from partnering restaurants.

The announcement comes just ahead of the team’s departure for London, England, where they will pitch the Square Roots Token Program at the Enactus World Cup. The Enactus World Cup takes place from September 26-28, and will mark Enactus Saint Mary’s first time on the international stage.

“This is what we mean when we say Saint Mary’s students are citizens of the world,” says Saint Mary’s University President, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “It’s thinking how your day-to-day work and activities, even while you’re a student, can have a beneficial impact on others outside the university, community and indeed around the world.”

Enactus is the largest student leadership organization in the world, striving to solve environmental, social and economic issues through entrepreneurial action. With over 150 students involved on campus, Enactus Saint Mary’s is one of the chapters leading the charge on the national, and soon to be, international scale.

“Our Square Roots Token Program began in April 2017 and we are so excited about the amazing response and support that we have received from our partnering restaurants in Nova Scotia,” says Meredith Drost, Co-President of Enactus. “It is truly inspiring to see the passion to reduce food waste in our own community from our customers and partners. Our team is also thrilled to have the opportunity share our program with the world when we travel to the Enactus World Exposition next week in London, England. We would not be here today without the amazing support of Saint Mary's University, the Sobey School of Business and the Business Development Centre.”

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab attended the event today on behalf of Labour and Advanced Education Minister Labi Kousoulis to celebrate the program’s latest achievements.

"We all know that government alone does not have all the answers to the challenges we face. We have to look to the community and the private sector to find solutions. When this happens, we witness a powerful force for change,” says Ms. Metlege Diab.  "This new formula for success combines business acumen with social consciousness. It teaches us how human capital can be directed and best used. This will benefit our economy as a whole - and help us build a stronger Nova Scotia.”

As a show of support for the program, President Summerby-Murray said the University purchased 100 tokens to be delivered by the students to those in need. 

Saint Mary’s honours back-to-back national football championship teams with Hall of Fame induction

Back-to-back national championships are being honored this year as two Saint Mary’s University football teams will be inducted into the Saint Mary’s University Sport Hall of Fame.

Full story

Solving conflict the Santamarian way

The Saint Mary's University Conflict Resolution Society and their Senior Program Coordinators with Saint Mary's President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.

For the 13th consecutive year, Saint Mary’s University students representing both undergraduate and graduate study within the faculties of Arts, Science and Commerce, will depart for Northern Ireland to facilitate peace education workshops. These 18 students leave for Northern Ireland today and will begin working with elementary school children throughout Belfast, Northern Ireland, once they arrive.

This long-standing and unique experiential program is a remarkable collaborative effort, coordinated through Saint Mary’s University, Peaceful Schools International and the student led, Conflict Resolution Society. Between November 2016 and February 2017, Saint Mary's students have successfully facilitated a series of peace education and conflict resolution workshops with more than a thousand local children.

Saint Mary’s students visited schools across Halifax for the workshops including: St. Catherine’s Elementary, Inglis Street Elementary, St. Mary’s Elementary, Oxford School Elementary, Halifax Independent School, Halifax Grammar School and Sacred Heart School of Halifax.

"This project is a reflection of the long term commitment made by Saint Mary's University and Peaceful Schools International to the promotion of peace education and conflict resolution locally and globally," said Bridget Brownlow, the Conflict Resolution Advisor at Saint Mary's and a Senior Program Coordinator for this initiative. "Over the past 12 years, the deep and transformative impact of this program is consistently highlighted by student participants as 'life changing'."

"It remains a true privilege to work alongside our students as they volunteer with children and youth in a spirit of collaboration and goodwill that may help to eventually create a more peaceful world."

The topic for the 2017 workshops is ‘Diversity and Inclusion: Sharing Being Unique’.

 The 2017 student group will be accompanied by Senior Program Coordinators Bridget Brownlow, Conflict Resolution Advisor and Part-time faculty, Political Science / Irish Studies and Emily Anderson, Vice-President, Peaceful Schools International and B.A. Program Advisor. Three faculty members will also be accompanying the group, Dr. Ashley Carver, Assistant Professor, Sociology/Criminology, Dr. Catherine Loughlin, Associate Dean, Research, Sobey School of Business and Dr. James Morrison, Professor, History.

University-community partnership launch YouTube-based sign language tool

Interpreter Ashley Campbell and Dr. Linda Campbell

Imagine travelling across Atlantic Canada without knowing how to properly pronounce the names of the towns and cities you are visiting. For members of the deaf community, knowing the local sign for place names across Atlantic Canada has been difficult—until now.
 
Today, Jan. 30, marks the launch of the Atlantic Provinces Sign Language Place Names Map. This map is a first of its kind online tool that contains place names from across Atlantic Canada in American Sign Language (ASL) and the regional dialect Maritime Sign Language (MSL) shared with viewers through YouTube.
 
“Anytime you travel or go to a new place, one of the first things you want to know is the name of that place,” said Dr. Linda Campbell, a member of the project team and professor at Saint Mary’s. “For deaf people, we often have difficulty knowing the correct sign for places we visit as each community often has its own local sign to refer to their area.”
 
“The last thing anyone visiting a new community wants to do is to continually mispronounce that name and it is pretty obvious when you are signing the wrong sign.”
 
There are many cities across the Atlantic Provinces that have unique sign names that demonstrate the present day sign languages used, which is a mix of both ASL and MSL. This map will be particularly helpful to ASL and MSL communicators as using correctly articulated and appropriate signs is critical for clear sign language communication.
 
All on-screen signers are local deaf community members, and the project was funded by deaf and interpreting community organizations.
 
Try the map.