Canada’s national defence within the global context

Left to right: Dr. Marc Doucet, Chair of Political Science; Associate Deputy Minister Gordon Venner; Dr. Margaret MacDonald, Dean of Arts; and Political Science Professor Dr. Alexandra Dobrowolsky

An undergraduate education can provide a very helpful foundation for careers in federal government, students heard recently from one of Canada’s top defence advisors.

“The things you’re studying here are going to be really important,” said Associate Deputy Minister Gordon Venner of the Department of National Defence. “We’re going to need a lot of people with the right skills.”

Speaking to a packed lecture hall at Saint Mary’s on November 21, Mr. Venner also explained that recruitment is an ongoing priority for National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Service personnel and civilian employees are tasked with implementing government decisions related to the defence of Canadian interests at home and abroad.

An education in political science, public policy, geography, business, international relations, communications, science or environmental studies can be helpful, to name just a few areas, and so are the abilities to speak other languages and a greater understanding of other cultures, he said.

Mr. Venner’s lecture was mainly focused on the topic, “Understanding Canada’s defence policy within the evolving global security environment”. He was in Halifax to attend the 11th Halifax International Security Forum, but took time out before the conference to speak to students at Saint Mary’s. The lecture was hosted by the Department of Political Science, but was open to students in all disciplines.

Dr. Marc Doucet, Chair of Political Science, said it was a unique opportunity to hear from such a high-level civil servant.

"It is always valuable for students to hear how the topics discussed in class or course readings, in this case the policy-making process that led to Canada's new defence policy, is described by government officials directly involved," said Dr. Doucet.

Mr. Venner was appointed Associate Deputy Minister in 2017, after several years of serving as Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy for National Defence. Previously, he held a number of senior positions with Global Affairs Canada. His regional areas of responsibility have included the Middle East and North Africa and his work has covered issues related to the G8, APEC and the OECD. Mr. Venner was also Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Foreign and Defence Policy in the Privy Council Office. He served as Canadian Ambassador to Iran (2004-2006) and Counsellor at the Canadian Mission to the European Union (1996-2000).

Mr. Venner holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Three Saint Mary's Huskies inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame

The 2019 Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inductees. Front row (left to right) Henry Boutilier; Justine Colley-Leger and Roger Caulfield. Back row (left to right): Suzanne Muir: Jackie Barrett; Jody Shelley; and Morgan Williams of Cole Harbour. Photo courtesy of the NSSHF, credit: Nick Pearce.

On the evening of Friday, November 15, the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inducted three exceptional former student-athletes from Saint Mary’s University.

Taking place at the Halifax Convention Centre, five athletes and two builders were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport. 

The inductees include arguably Nova Scotia’s greatest female basketball and soccer players in Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14 and Suzanne Muir BComm’93, and the first-ever Special Olympics athlete to be inducted, powerlifter and Special Olympian Jackie Barrett BComm’98. 

Also inducted were Mooseheads legend and former NHL player Jody Shelley and the record-holder for the most caps as a Canadian rugby scrum-half, Morgan Williams. In the builder category, long-time Little League coach, baseball manager and community hero Henry Boutilier, along with international basketball official and mentor Roger Caulfield. 

Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14

Justine Colley-Leger is the all-time leading scorer in the history of CIS women’s basketball. Her impressive play earned her two CIS National Player of the Year awards, and she led the Saint Mary’s Huskies to four consecutive AUS championships and CIS silver and bronze medals. She was also a two-time AUS MVP, four-time All-Canadian and five-time AUS first-team All-Star while playing more than 40 games with the Canadian national team.

Jackie Barrett BComm’98

 A force to be reckoned with in the sport of powerlifting, Jackie Barrett dominated Canadian Special Olympics powerlifting competitions throughout his career. Barrett won 20 gold medals, and he has represented Canada well at the World Special Olympics competition with an incredible 13 first-place finishes. In his final year of competition (2015), he set three Special Olympics world records, lifting 277.5 kg, 297.5 kg and 697.5 kg in the squat, deadlift and triple combination events, respectively. In the same year, he also became the first Special Olympics athlete to be nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s top athlete.

Suzanne Muir BComm’93

Suzanne Muir was named AUS Rookie of the Year during her time playing with the Saint Mary’s Huskies women’s soccer team. Her standout skills also earned her two AUS MVP awards, five-time AUS All-Star status and two-time All-Canadian honours. Twice named Athlete of the Year at Saint Mary’s University, Muir went on to play with Canada’s national women’s team from 1992 to 1999. She played with the national team at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups. She was inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sport Hall of Fame in 2014.

Saint Mary’s University welcomes new Chair of the Board of Governors

Saint Mary’s University is proud to welcome Lawrence (Larry) Freeman, Q.C., as the new Chair of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors.

A well-known Halifax lawyer, Freeman has dedicated much of his time and expertise to organizations in Nova Scotia. He has provided countless hours of public service and has been involved with numerous causes and associations that help to improve the lives of Nova Scotians.

“It is an honour for me to be elected Chair of the Board of Governors of Saint Mary’s University,” said Freeman. “To be a part of the next phase of this institution’s future is both a gift and a responsibility that I cherish. I look forward to working with the board and senior leadership to continue to grow the university and empower future generations of Santamarians.”

Freeman has a strong commitment to community and is involved in a variety of local and national organizations and charities. In addition to his role with the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors, Freeman is a member of the Community Leadership Advisory Council, and a board member of the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Among his accolades, Freeman was named Queen’s Counsel in 2002.  

“Saint Mary’s University is proud to welcome Larry Freeman as our new Board Chair,” said Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Larry brings a wealth of experience to the position and has shown a strong commitment to the values of our university. I want to thank him for his continuing dedication to our institution.”

Freeman joined the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors in 2008 and has previously served as Vice-Chair.

Freeman is a partner with Atlantic Canada’s first and largest regional law firm, Stewart McKelvey, one of the 20 largest law firms in Canada. Freeman has been providing counsel to clients for more than 40 years in the areas of banking and financing, commercial lending and corporate and business law, as well as commercial real estate acquisitions, sales and leasing. He has been involved in project financing, both inside and outside of Canada. A graduate of Dalhousie University, Freeman received his Bachelor of Commerce in 1970 and his Bachelor of Laws in 1973.

Retiring Chair Karen Oldfield Q.C., ICD.D, has contributed significantly to the university during her more than 22 years of service on the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors. A loyal and dedicated Santamarian (BA’82), Oldfield was elected Chair of the Board of Governors in 2016. The University is grateful to Oldfield for all she has done during her tenure.

Big win for Saint Mary's at the Atlantic Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards

Aditi Joshi, founder of AJDesigns; and Saint Mary’s students Mubdu Alali, founder of Bloxo; and Nevell Provo, founder of Smooth Meal Prep

Earlier this month, four East Coast university students competed in the Atlantic Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA), for a chance to win cash and prizes valued at nearly $100,000. The Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) is the premier global competition for students who own and operate a business while attending college or university.

Among the Atlantic competition, Aditi Joshi, founder of AJDesigns; Mubdu Alali, founder of Bloxo; Ross Arsenault, Co-founder of Ashored Innovations; and Nevell Provo, founder of Smooth Meal Prep. Each entrepreneur pitched their business to a panel of industry experts and local entrepreneurs with hopes to gain access to major prizes such as $1,500 cash, flights, coaching services, retail space, and the chance to move on to the National GSEA Competition in Toronto.

Ross Arsenault, BComm’18, was named the local winner and will move on to compete against the world’s best student entrepreneurs at the Global Finals for a chance to win a $40,000 worth of cash and prizes, and the title of EO Global Student Entrepreneur. Arsenault, a Saint Mary’s University student of the Master’s in Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation program, is developing sustainability-enabled technologies to modernize trap fisheries. Annually, 640,000 tons of fishing gear is lost and becomes ocean waste, resulting in 140,000 deaths of protected species annually. Ashored is developing a ropeless fishing system to minimize the risk of whale/animal entanglement and trap loss, while allowing fishers to fish in zones closed to fixed-gear fishing.

"The local recognition from GSEA Atlantic means a great deal in terms of resources, and personally as a founder with a maritime mission. Starting/running a business while still being a student definitely isn't the easiest at times, but it's benefitted Ashored as a company in countless ways!” says Arsenault. He will travel to Toronto to compete on the national stage in January 2020.

GSEA is an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) program. EO was founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs. With over 10,000 members in 144 chapters in 48 countries throughout the world, they’ve enabled business owners to learn from each other to experience greater business success while forming strong professional and personal relationships. EO provides events, leadership development, a forum for online discussion, and educational opportunities with the goal of teaching, inspiring, and transforming entrepreneurs into active members of a global business community.

Celebrating the inaugural recipients of the Viola Desmond Bursary

Saint Mary’s University students Leah Matheson and Kendra Smith, the inaugural recipients of the Viola Desmond Bursary

Saint Mary's University and the Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute joined together on Friday, November 8, to celebrate the legacy of Viola Desmond and support the next generation of female African-Nova Scotian business leaders.

Leah Matheson, a second-year commerce student, and Kendra Smith, who is in her final year in accounting, are the inaugural recipients of the Viola Desmond Bursary.

"I feel blessed with how many people came to this event to support us and honour the legacy of Viola Desmond," said Smith. "I am very grateful to be one of the first recipients."

The Viola Desmond Bursary was announced on November 8, the date of Viola's heroic anti-discrimination action in 1946. The bursary is fully-endowed and is awarded each year to full-time African-Nova Scotian students at Saint Mary's.

"I have had a lot of support from my family, and from Saint Mary's, that has helped me during my degree," said Matheson. "I am looking forward to more people having the opportunity that Kendra and I did through the Viola Desmond bursary, an opportunity for them to pursue what they love."

The award amount marks the year of Viola Desmond's anti-segregation action, 1946, with students receiving $1,946. While this award is not renewable, it may be awarded to the same student more than once.

While preference for the bursary is given to students in the Sobey School of Business, the bursary may also be awarded to students in programs featuring entrepreneurship. Preference will also be given to female students from Halifax County. Students must also have a financial need.

This award was established with the permission of the Desmond Family and through the generosity of The Honourable Wilfred P. Moore, Q.C., LL.D., and Ms. Jane Adams Ritcey.

"Viola Desmond has been very good to our city, our province and our country," said Senator Wilfred Moore. "My family is very pleased to assist Saint Mary's University in this most noble virtue—the transfer of knowledge. We do so in keeping with the bedrock tradition of Saint Mary's, offering a hand up."

Trailblazers recognized at National Retail Innovation Awards

On Nov. 1, Saint Mary’s University and the David Sobey Centre hosted the National Retail Innovation Awards at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront hotel. The annual awards recognize young retail and support companies that offer innovative contributions to the Canadian retail sector. This year’s winners were Poppy Barley, Six Hundred Four, and Dash Hudson.

James Lepp, the owner of the Vancouver-based shoe retailer Six Hundred Four, received an Instagram message inviting him to receive the award in Halifax. The award, which is for innovative customer experience, is the company’s first-ever. Lepp and his wife excitedly packed their bags and headed to Halifax.

“It’s nice that someone of importance [...] is recognizing what we’re doing,” he says.

“Retail is extremely exciting today,” says Dr. Ramesh Venkat, director of the David Sobey Centre. “We see companies focusing on customer experience and data-driven decisions, so it’s a very vibrant environment where innovation is not optional. The companies that take the road less travelled seem to be the ones that are making their mark.”

Each winner this year is making a mark in their own way. Poppy Barley won the Award for Sustainable Retailing Innovation for its socially and environmentally conscious approach to luxury fashion. Shoe retailer Six Hundred Four won the Award for Retail Customer Experience for its unique sneaker gallery, as well as its virtual reality shopping experience. Lastly, Halifax’s own Dash Hudson won the Award for Technology Innovation for its AI-driven platform that helps companies with their visual assets to increase customer engagement.

“As a company that is based in Halifax […] who primarily does business in the United States, it’s great to be recognized by a Canadian institution, and a Halifax institution, like Saint Mary’s for the work that we’re doing,” says Thomas Rankin, CEO and co-founder of Dash Hudson.

Dr. David Sobey, Chairman Emeritus Empire Company Limited, praised the winners and their contributions. “The opportunity to honour innovators in the retail industry has been a great benefit to the Sobey School of Business and Saint Mary’s University, as well as to the students. This event gives us all a great opportunity to dialogue with leaders of industry, and in particular, the retail industry,” he says.

The David Sobey Centre was launched in 2015 with the support of Dr. David Sobey. The centre focuses on three main areas: research, innovation and education. The centre is a leading source of retail expertise and helps to prepare the next generation of industry leaders.

Industry leaders, like Poppy Barley, Six Hundred Four, and Dash Hudson, that will go on to further innovate and disrupt the retail sector.

Teachers and professors explore cultural connections

More than 300 social studies teachers from across the province were students for a day on October 25, during their annual professional development conference. Held for a fifth year at Saint Mary’s University, the event included more than 30 workshops around the theme Cultural Connections, some led by professors in the Faculty of Arts.  

“It is such an important and powerful connection that must be kept between our learning institutions, especially as students transition into colleges and universities,” said Dr. Benita Bunjun of Social Justice & Community Studies, whose session focused on cultural relations in the classroom. “I think it’s really important that every year, these workshops show a diversity of people sharing expertise, a multiplicity of people who are educators, transferrers of knowledge, keepers of knowledge.”

She and Dr. Rohini Bannerjee of the Modern Languages & Classics department have been involved in the conference for several years.

“I’m always a little bit nervous about teaching teachers, but it’s also a great privilege because it helps in reminding all of us why we do what we do,” said Bannerjee, who taught a session about the Jewish experience in Mauritius during the Second World War. “Why we find teaching so important, and why being in the classroom with diverse points of view is important. Maybe when they come to hear me speak, they might see that my own lived experience is pretty diverse and that cultural connections are part of my everyday. At the same time, as teachers, we need to help our students create their own stories.”

The conference also included an education trade exhibition and a keynote address by Weldon Boudreau, an Acadian singer and teacher at École Beaubassin. Several off-site sessions took place at the Africville National Historic Site, Ross Farm Museum and the Treaty Truckhouse at the Sipekne’katik (Shubenacadie) River, where participants met with the Grassroots Grandmothers and Water Protectors.

“We really wanted to focus on the role that teachers play in the lives of students when it comes to students’ own cultural identity and how we can effectively celebrate students’ identities by bringing it into classrooms,” said Maureen McNamara, President of the Social Studies Teachers Association of Nova Scotia. “That’s why we asked Weldon to be our keynote; he had a really important story to tell about what it means to be proud of who you are and where you come from, and to understand who you are as an individual. Individual identity is really integral in creating meaningful learning experiences for students.”

Other Saint Mary’s faculty members who led workshops were Prof. Shana McGuire of Modern Languages & Classics on teaching about francophone cultures through film, Philosophy Chair Dr. Shelagh Crooks on strategies for teaching critical thinking; Dr. Rosana Barbosa of History on music and soccer as cultural history teaching tools; and Dr. Min-Jung Kwak of Geography & Environmental Studies on international students in Canada and their families.

Student-athlete Bhreagh Burke finishes 8K run barefoot

It’s certainly not the way she planned to race, but cross country runner Bhreagh Burke finished the women’s 8k race at the AUS Championship in her bare feet.

The championships were hosted by the UNB Reds at Kingswood Resort in Hanwell, N.B. on Saturday, October 26.

It was a remarkable finish for 2nd year Arts student. Burke lost one of her shoes during the first kilometre of the race.  She stopped to put it back on, only to have it fall off again, leaving her in 25th position.

Determined to continue, Burke removed the other shoe, racing in sock feet for the second kilometre before stopping again to remove her socks and run the rest of the race barefoot. Bhreagh finished 10th and was SMU’s first female runner to cross the finish line in 31:58.   

“This was, without doubt, one of the gutsiest performances that I have witnessed over my years of coaching cross country,” said Head Coach Kevin Heisler.

Bhreagh, along with first-place finisher Andrew Peverill, will compete in the upcoming USport Championships in Kingston, Ontario on November 9th.

Interculturalism in focus at Saint Mary’s

One of many International Education Week activities included The Day of the Dead community altar at the Patrick Power Library (Oct 29 - Nov 4), which celebrates the memory of departed loved ones and the continuity of life.

The important role of international education in fostering global citizenship is the focus of celebration this week as Saint Mary’s marks this year’s International Education Week.

“The enthusiastic reception of the cultural events and international opportunity sessions we are presenting this year speaks to the outward-looking ethos of our student, staff, and faculty community,” says Miyuki Arai of the Office of Global Learning and Intercultural Support at The Studio for Teaching and Learning who co-organizes the event each year. “Although many students are interested in study abroad opportunities, we’d like to see even more people take advantage of the more than 100 academic exchange agreements we have with partner universities in over 30 countries around the world.”

The power of international experiences and intercultural learning is a particular passion of University president Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, especially in his capacity as Board Chair of the Canadian Bureau for International Education. Intercultural learning is a strategic priority for the university, and Saint Mary’s strives to “foster deeper relations between cultures and provide our students with a distinct and global perspective,” he says. ”We continue our commitment to graduating students with global perspectives and intercultural competence, while working to ensure that we as faculty and staff live these values ourselves each day.”

This year’s celebration includes the International Opportunities Fair hosted by the Patrick Power Library, several study abroad information sessions, the always popular Korean Cultural Café, and a music recital hosted by the Confucius Institute. The week winds up on Friday with the showcase event, Stories from Overseas, where former and current exchange program participants reflect on how their educational journeys have been shaped by international study. 

For more information on international learning opportunities at Saint Mary’s University, contact the Global Learning and Intercultural Support office at gocentre@smu.ca.

MTEI grads win $75k in US business challenge

The Ashored founders: Aaron Stevenson, left, Ross Arsenault and Maxwell Poole. (Photo courtesy Peter Moreira, Entrevestor.com)

Saint Mary’s alumni Ross Arsenault BComm'17, MTEI'18 and Aaron Stevenson MTEI'19 along with partner Max Poole BComm'17 on their company, Ashored, have won $75k USD Platinum win at the MassChallenge in Boston.

The company was selected back in May as the sole Canadian company to enter the well-recognized accelerator program, one of 100 start-ups competing for funding.

"Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, and Texas, MassChallenge strengthens the global innovation ecosystem by accelerating high-potential startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world for zero-equity taken." - MassChallenge.org

The MassChallenge Boston program provides training, collaboration space, connections to experts and mentors and is zero cost. Cash prizes are for zero equity. This isn't Dragon's Den, this is money to drive business growth, free of obligations.

Ashored Innovations were one of 12 companies awarded on October 24. Over $1 million USD in zero-equity prizes were awarded, provided via partnerships MassChallenge has with Boeing and the International Space Station National Lab.

This competition plants another flag in the Boston startup ecosystem, which Sobey School's Venture Grade and MTEI have been making inroads into for the last several years.

Ashored adds the winnings to their growing funding pool, including a recent $30,000 investment from Sobey School's Venture Grade group.

Alumni win top honours for athletic achievements

Justine Colley-Leger

Jackie Barrett

Suzanne Muir

Saint Mary’s has a long history of athletic excellence. This fall, three exceptional former student-athletes are being given top honours for their accomplishments.

Basketball legend Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14, powerlifter and Special Olympian Jackie Barrett BComm’98, and soccer star Suzanne Muir BComm’93, will be inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame on November 15 in Halifax.

They are among five athletes to be celebrated not only for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport, but each rising to national acclaim.

A force to be reckoned with in the sport of powerlifting, highly decorated Special Olympics athlete Jackie Barrett will make history as the first Special Olympian joining the Hall of Fame this year.

Originally from Spryfield, Barrett has dominated Canadian Special Olympics powerlifting competitions throughout his career with 20 gold medals, and he has represented Canada well at the World Special Olympics competition with an incredible 13 first-place finishes. In his final year of competition (2015), he set three Special Olympics world records, lifting 277.5 kg, 297.5 kg and 697.5 kg in the squat, deadlift and triple combination events respectively. In the same year, he also became the first Special Olympics athlete to be nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s top athlete.

Justine Colley-Leger is the all-time leading scorer in the history of CIS women’s basketball. Her impressive play earned her two CIS National Player of the Year awards and she led the Saint Mary’s Huskies to four consecutive AUS championships and CIS silver and bronze medals. She was also a two-time AUS MVP, four-time All-Canadian and five-time AUS first team All-Star, while playing more than 40 games with the Canadian national team.

Suzanne Muir was named AUS Rookie of the Year during her time playing with the Saint Mary’s Huskies women’s soccer team. Her standout skills also earned her two AUS MVP awards, five-time AUS All-Star status and two-time All-Canadian honours. Twice named Athlete of the Year at Saint Mary’s University, Muir went on to play with Canada’s national women’s team from 1992 to 1999. She played with the national team at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups. She was inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sport Hall of Fame in 2014.

On a related note, Justin Palardy BA’11, geography major and former Husky, was a pro football player with CFL and now a coach for the Dalhousie Tigers. He is being inducted on Nov 1 to the Colchester County Sports Hall of Fame.

Tickets for the 2019 Induction Night are on sale now at the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Call 902-404-3343 to place your order.

Celebrating the new Dr. Hari Das Commons

Saint Mary’s students now have access to a newly renovated space to study, connect, and relax - the Dr. Hari Das Commons. 

Completed at the end of September, the 1,725 square foot area, located on the second floor of the Loyola Residence building, is named after the late professor, Dr. Hari Das. The commons honours his connection with Saint Mary’s and was made possible by the family of Dr. Hari Das.  

Dr. Hari Das

“Dr. Das had a special connection to Saint Mary’s and it’s wonderful to see him recognized in this manner. His relationship with students and faculty, along with his contributions in the Sobey School of Business, make the naming of this space especially fitting,” said Saint Mary’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.  

Sustainably designed, the Dr. Hari Das Commons was conceived as a hub of student activity. The modern, bright space includes 50 seats and a large meeting table for learning, socializing, and collaboration and features new comfortable furniture, a higher ceiling, new lighting and finishes.

Overlooking the quad, track, and athletics field, the Dr. Hari Das Commons is ideally located to bring students together from across all faculties, creating a sense of community in the space.

“The Dr. Hari Das Commons is a beautiful addition to our network of learning commons which are emerging across campus,” said Saint Mary’s Vice-President, Finance and Administration Gabe Morrison. “It reflects Dr. Das’s commitment to students and leading-edge scholarship. The renovation reflects the concept and design standards established for the adjacent and upcoming Sobeys Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub.” 

A professor in the Sobey School of Business for 32 years, Dr. Das was deeply connected to students, faculty, and staff. While at Saint Mary’s, he taught several graduate and doctoral courses and continued his research in understanding human behaviour. His memory lives on at the university through the guidance and direction he provided for many business students. 

“Dr. Das had a tremendous impact on me and also influenced my own teaching,” says Saint Mary’s alumnus Dr. Scott MacMillan, Associate Professor in Management at Mount Saint Vincent University. “He was a brilliant teacher who knew what he wanted his students to know. He had very high standards, always worked hard, and demanded the same of others.” 

An eminent national and international scholar, Dr. Das received his MSc and PhD from the University of British Columbia and published several journal articles and textbooks. Dr. Das’s interest in human resources led him to co-author the best-selling textbook, Canadian Human Resource Management. Now in its 12th edition, with almost 300,000 copies sold, it is one of the most successful textbooks published in Canada and is used in over 70 universities in the country.

In addition to his work as a scholar, Dr. Das published two novels and several short stories; however, his passion was filmmaking. Active in the Atlantic Filmmakers’ Cooperative, he wrote, directed, and produced a number of documentaries and commercial films. His short films on child labour and female infanticide received recognition and won awards.

Dr. Hari Das passed away in 2010. In honour of his memory and relationship with Saint Mary’s, the family of Dr. Hari Das has funded several philanthropic investments at the university. “We are very grateful to the family of Dr. Hari Das. Their generous support of the university through the Dr. Hari Das Commons, Dr. Hari Das Conference Room, Dr. Hari Das Global Scholars Award, and Dr. Hari Das Memorial MBA Scholarship is extraordinary,” said Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Dr. Das’s legacy will live on in this space, bringing students together to make important interdisciplinary connections.”