New book captures unique Canadian approaches to Fair Trade advocacy

Hope for a better world is the inspiration behind the discussion of the global trade system and the fair trade movement in a new book that launched at Saint Mary’s University. Fittingly for a book titled The Fair Trade Handbook: Building a Better World, Together, the Maritime book launch took place on October 1, otherwise known as International Coffee Day.

The first of its kind in Canada, the new handbook is co-edited by Dr. Gavin Fridell of Saint Mary’s, with fair trade advocates Zack Gross and Sean McHugh. The collection of essays brings together 28 fair traders, trade justice activists and scholars who offer insights on the Canadian movement’s common goals of advancing trade justice and South-North solidarity.

Conveying hope and positivity, the book’s title was negotiated carefully, says Dr. Fridell, Canada Research Chair in International Development Studies.

“Between the three of us, we came up with a title that represents the optimism that we think people in the fair trade movement want to convey,” he says. “You want to scathingly criticize the limits of the existing global trade system, but you also want to do it in a way that is hopefully going to open some doors for things to go in a different direction.”

Taking place during SMU Homecoming 2021, the book launch on campus also toasted the 25th anniversary of Nova Scotia’s own Just Us! Coffee cooperative in Grand Pré, which contributed content in the book. Canada’s first fair trade and organic coffee roaster, Just Us! has grown from humble beginnings to become a national leader and role model in the quest for global fair trade.

Joey Pitoello, the company’s general manager, joined Fridell and Dr. Kate Ervine of Saint Mary’s in a panel discussion at the launch, along with Nelson Camilo Melo Maya, who is a coffee farmer in Colombia and chair of the Small Producers Symbol (SPP) Global, who connected virtually.

“One of the neatest chapters in the book is one with Joey and Nelson in dialogue, talking about what we need to do to decolonize trade for farmers in the South,” says Fridell.

The short, accessible chapters are divided into three sections: Fair Trade in an Unfair World, Fair Trade in Action, and Pursuing Global Justice. Fridell and Ervine co-wrote a chapter titled, “Demanding Justice: Can Trade Policy be Fair?” (Find an adaptation of this chapter in the latest Monitor Magazine.)

Coffee is a common theme throughout, as a product that is foundational to fair trade along with bananas, tea and cocoa. Co-op Coffee shares perspectives on its innovative climate change policies, and the book opens with “A Lively Bean that Brightens Lives,” a graphic story tracing the origins of coffee in Ethiopia to the creation of the country’s coffee cooperative.  

“I love that chapter! I can’t wait to bring it to my class,” says Fridell, who will be teaching IDST 2401: Fair Trade and Free Trade this winter. In the course, students examine labour, racial, environmental, gender and human rights with a focus on trade justice and social power. Just Us! is a key community partner in Fridell’s classes, with student field trips to the coffee roastery and Pitoello appearing on campus as a guest speaker.

Co-editor McHugh is the founder and executive director of the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN). Fridell sits on its advisory board. Gross is a member of Fairtrade Canada’s Board of Directors, and initially raised the idea of doing a book, during a conversation at one of CFTN’s annual meetings. He partly wanted to showcase the Canadian approach to fair trade, “in the sense that its leaders here tend to be more focused on cooperatives and small business models,” says Fridell.

“I hope we’ve created a book with chapters where you feel really down about the world, and then other chapters where you feel uplifted,” he adds. “Fair traders wear both hats. They wear one hat recognizing how far we are from coffee farmers being properly compensated for all the work and knowledge they put into their coffee. On the other hand, these are also very optimistic people who believe they have to step up and get things done.”

Chapters of the book will also be available online in Spanish. It’s getting positive early reviews, including one from Vandana Shiva, a well-known scholar, ecofeminist and anti-globalization author. She says the book “reminds us that unfair trade falsely called ‘free trade’ has its roots in colonialism. Trade driven by limitless corporate greed is at the roots of the multiple crises we face – diseases, climate change, extinction, injustice and inequality.” The authors show that “fair trade is a movement for decolonization. It is based on solidarity, not exploitation. It puts people and planet before profits. It is creating a liveable and just world for all,” she adds.

Watch a video of the Maritime launch event for The Fair Trade Handbook, held Oct. 1 at Saint Mary’s (skip ahead to 16 minute mark). Fernwood Publishing also hosted a virtual book launch on September 29, available for viewing on YouTube.

Student leader strives to foster Truth and Reconciliation year round

Kyle Cook

The Saint Mary’s community observes the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Treaty Day follows on October 1 to commence Mi’kmaw History Month in Nova Scotia. Both occasions provide important opportunities to reflect upon Indigenous knowledge, Treaty relationships, and the ongoing legacy of residential schools.       

“These two days go hand in hand together,” says Kyle Cook, Vice President of Advocacy for the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA). “I think it’s a time for folks who identify as settlers, especially here in Mi’kma’ki, to really understand their place on this land, and how they can respect the overall treaties and to stand by as allies. It’s also a time for settlers to understand how they can either establish or further develop healthy relationships with not only Indigenous Peoples, but also the land and water as well.”

Cook plans to commemorate the days by attending the Weekend of Reconciliation events on the Kjipuktuk (Halifax) waterfront, organized by the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. But he also puts a lot of his time and energy into making sure the important work of truth and reconciliation happens all year long, not just on a few special days on the calendar.

“Moving forward, for the Indigenous community, it’s more than just having a day to reflect or having a few days of events to look at Indigenous knowledge,” he says.

Cook grew up in a Mi’kmaw community near St. George’s, on the rural southwest coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. In his newly created position with SMUSA, one of his priorities is collaborating with other Indigenous students and staff to advocate for the creation of a Community Drum on campus. The group submitted its proposal to the university a few weeks ago.

“A Community Drum will serve as a key tool to revitalize Indigenous knowledge here at Saint Mary’s, and to create a safe and empowering space for Indigenous students,” he says. “It can also act as a liaison between SMU and the Indigenous community, to collectively come together here or to gather in other places in Halifax. It’s a way we can continue to reflect and learn every day.”

Cook acknowledges the valuable input on the proposal from Professor Raymond Sewell, a role model whose songs and drum performances have been highlights at many university and other community events. The former Indigenous Student Advisor is now a full-time faculty member teaching Indigenous Literature and Culture courses.

A number of other courses can provide students with more opportunities to deepen their cultural knowledge and understanding, says Cook. Launching this winter, Indigenous Knowledges and Relations is co-located within seven academic departments. The Mi’kmaw Language course is available again this year, and Prof. Tammy Williams is teaching a new course, Indigenous Peoples’ Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice, to name a few options.       

Events beyond the classroom are also educational. Cook collaborated with Prof. Williams and Elder Thomas Christmas in hosting a memorable virtual workshop in February, Decolonizing Education with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge. Nearly 250 attendees tuned in from across the country and even as far away as Europe.  

“We were able to create connections and have meaningful conversations with folks all across Turtle Island and beyond,” he recalls. “It was a powerful moment for me to really understand that when you work within the community, and come together on a collective understanding of how you want to promote reconciliation, it’s phenomenal the impact you can make on a community.”

Cook and his local team organized the workshop through the Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) Youth Reconciliation Initiative. The non-profit leadership program builds capacity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to design programming that sparks dialogue on reconciliation. Through the same initiative, Cook helped put on another event in March, The Drum Has a Heartbeat, in partnership with Sewell and Elder Debbie Eisan.

In May, he took part in CRE’s Indigenous Youth Policy Hackathon, and his team placed first in the national competition. He worked with First Nation, Métis, Inuit and other participants, and their challenge was to create a Canadian government policy for pandemic preparedness in First Nations communities. Their winning policy brief put community consultation at the forefront along with the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing; “which brings Indigenous and settler knowledge together to create a unified way forward that would accommodate both ways of seeing,” says Cook, who also received one of SMU’s 2021 Student Leadership Recognition Awards.

Now in the fourth year of his Arts degree, he’s pursuing a double major in Social Justice & Community Studies and Criminology, with a minor in Psychology.

“Community organizing is something I’m really passionate about,” says Cook. “Social Justice & Community Studies was a program that really caught my attention because of its focus on community engagement, and working within the community to uplift marginalized folks. It has also given me a chance to really continue finding myself, in terms of my own Indigenous identity, in a way that I wasn’t expecting when I first moved here. I’m so happy that it found me, really.”

Learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at www.smu.ca/indigenous-community/nationaldayfortruthandreconciliation/.  

Saint Mary’s University Publishes Vaccination Rate Statistics

Saint Mary’s University is publishing the vaccination statistics of the campus community.  

The university remains committed to ensuring the safety of the campus community and the publication of this data is an essential component of that commitment. The statistics are anonymous and divided between students, faculty, staff, and visitors that come to campus. The stats are divided between daily vaccination disclosure rates and a cumulative vaccination rate report that is updated weekly all based upon data collected through the Anonymous COVID Vaccine Disclosure form. Saint Mary’s vaccination statistics can be found here.  

“The health and safety of our community are of the utmost importance, which is why we are sharing these statistics as we work towards our October 15 fully vaccinated date,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Based upon the data reported to us, we are seeing a rise in vaccination rates among our community with a significantly higher percentage of people who are fully vaccinated than that of the general population of Nova Scotia. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to protect the Saint Mary’s community by being fully vaccinated.” 

Since the university announced the requirement for proof of full vaccination on August 27, every single day, the fully vaccinated rate of the Saint Mary’s campus community has exceeded the fully vaccinated rate of Nova Scotia and Canada. In fact, since that announcement, the self-reported daily fully vaccinated rate of people on campus has ranged from 87.93 percent to as high as 95.59 percent. 

As announced last month, all faculty, students, and staff must submit proof of vaccination immediately if available and by no later than October 15. Proof of vaccination can be uploaded here. For those who still need to schedule appointments, there are free walk-in vaccination clinics on September 27 and October 5, 6, 12, 13, 25 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Homburg Centre Community Room. Those who cannot meet the vaccination requirement because of medical or other grounds must apply for an exemption. 

And lastly, a special reminder that everyone on campus must complete the daily check-in form when coming to campus.  The daily check-in form is an integral part of the university’s proactive efforts to fight COVID-19. The form is a critical part of any potential contact tracing and works together with the Anonymous COVID Vaccine Disclosure form, to gather data for the university’s daily vaccination rate. 

First observation of light from behind a black hole

Researchers observed bright flares of X-ray emissions, produced as gas falls into a supermassive black hole. The flares echoed off of the gas falling into the black hole, and as the flares were subsiding, short flashes of X-rays were seen – corresponding to the reflection of the flares from the far side of the disk, bent around the black hole by its strong gravitational field. (Image credit: Dan Wilkins)

Fulfilling a prediction of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, researchers report the first-ever recordings of X-ray emissions from the far side of a black hole. 

Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Luigi Gallo contributed to the analysis and interpretation of this collaborative research project, which was recently published in Nature. 

“While we have seen X-ray flares before and we have seen them “reflect” off the accretion disc around the black hole, this is really the first time we have been able to isolate individual events (flares) as originating from behind the black hole,” said Dr. Gallo, who has been working on this type of research for 20 years.  

“This is really important because these regions are so small in size and dynamic on such rapid time scales that it is impossible to take an image.  Events like this allow us to determine what the region closest to the black hole looks like,” he said.

Watching X-rays flung out into the universe by the supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy 800 million light-years away, Stanford University astrophysicist Dan Wilkins noticed an intriguing pattern. He observed a series of bright flares of X-rays – exciting, but not unprecedented – and then, the telescopes recorded something unexpected: additional flashes of X-rays that were smaller, later and of different “colors” than the bright flares.

According to theory, these luminous echoes were consistent with X-rays reflected from behind the black hole – but even a basic understanding of black holes tells us that is a strange place for light to come from.

“Any light that goes into that black hole doesn't come out, so we shouldn’t be able to see anything that's behind the black hole,” said Wilkins, who is a research scientist at the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. It is another strange characteristic of the black hole, however, that makes this observation possible. “The reason we can see that is because that black hole is warping space, bending light and twisting magnetic fields around itself,” Wilkins explained. 

The strange discovery, detailed in a paper published in Nature, is the first direct observation of light from behind a black hole – a scenario that was predicted by Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity but never confirmed, until now.

“Fifty years ago, when astrophysicists starting speculating about how the magnetic field might behave close to a black hole, they had no idea that one day we might have the techniques to observe this directly and see Einstein’s general theory of relativity in action,” said Roger Blandford, a co-author of the paper who is the Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and Stanford and SLAC professor of physics and particle physics.

 How to see a black hole

The original motivation behind this research was to learn more about a mysterious feature of certain black holes, called a corona. When material is falling into a supermassive black hole, it powers the brightest continuous sources of light in the Universe, and as it does so, forms a corona around the black hole. This light – which is X-ray light – can be analyzed to map and characterize a black hole.

The leading theory for what a corona is starts with gas sliding into the center of the black hole where it superheats to millions of degrees. At that temperature, electrons separate from atoms, creating a magnetized plasma. Caught up in the powerful spin of the black hole, the magnetic field arcs so high above the black hole, and twirls about itself so much, that it eventually breaks altogether – a situation so reminiscent of what happens around our own Sun that it borrowed the name “corona.”

“This magnetic field getting tied up and then snapping close to the black hole heats everything around it and produces these high energy electrons that then go on to produce the X-rays,” said Wilkins.

For this project, the researchers trained two space-based X-ray telescopes, NASA’s NuSTAR and the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton, on the galaxy known as I Zwicky 1. The two bright flares that they observed are only the second example of flares that can be associated with a corona being launched away from a black hole.

They processed the observations with a new technique, which takes advantage of the fact that the immense gravity around the black hole shifts the wavelength of light. By accounting for that shift and the time delay between the initial flash and when it bounces off the spinning disc of superhot gas encircling the black hole – known as an accretion disk – the researchers were able to translate the X-rays into a map of the environment just outside the event horizon of the black hole.

As Wilkins took a closer look to investigate the origin of the flares, he saw the series of smaller flashes. These, the researchers determined, are the same X-ray flares but reflected from the back of the disk – a first glimpse at the far side of a black hole.

“I've been building theoretical predictions of how these echoes appear to us for a few years,” said Wilkins. “I'd already seen them in the theory I’ve been developing, so once I saw them, I could figure out the connection.” 

Future observations

The mission to characterize and understand coronas continues and will require more observation. Part of that future will be the European Space Agency’s X-ray observatory, Athena (Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics). As a member of the lab of Steve Allen, professor of physics at Stanford and of particle physics and astrophysics at SLAC, Wilkins is helping to developing part of the Wide Field Imager detector for Athena.

“It's got a much bigger mirror than we've ever had on an X-ray telescope and it's going to let us get higher resolution looks in much shorter observation times,” said Wilkins. “So, the picture we are starting to get from the data at the moment is going to become much clearer with these new observatories.”

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Co-authors of this research are from Saint Mary’s University (Canada), Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON), University of Amsterdam and The Pennsylvania State University. 

This work was supported by the NASA NuSTAR and XMM-Newton Guest Observer programs, a Kavli Fellowship at Stanford University, and the V.M. Willaman Endowment.

Note: This story originally appeared on Stanford University’s website.

Celebrated Business Leader, Mental Health Advocate, and Philanthropist to Receive Honorary Degree from Saint Mary’s University

Michael H. McCain

Celebrated business leader, mental health advocate, and philanthropist Michael H. McCain will receive the highest honour Saint Mary's University can bestow, an honorary degree. 

"Home to the Sobey School of Business, the largest business school in Atlantic Canada, Saint Mary's University is a national leader in teaching and studying ethical and values-based business practices and community engagement. These themes are essential to a bright, inclusive and sustainable future," says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "It is our honour to recognize the accomplishments of a leading Canadian business leader who focuses on ethical and sustainable business practices and is known for his philanthropy and advocacy for enhancing food security and mental health services—Michael H. McCain." 

Michael H. McCain is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s flagship food companies, with sales of $4.3 billion and employing approximately 13,500 people in Canada and the United States. McCain has devoted his career to the food industry, starting at McCain Foods in the late 1970s, where he held a variety of roles, including president and chief executive officer of McCain Foods USA. He joined Maple Leaf Foods in 1995. Since then, he has been instrumental in establishing Maple Leaf as a strong and sustainable, values-based company with leading brands and market share across its businesses and a bold vision for the future.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this Doctor of Commerce from the Sobey School of Business.  It is particularly meaningful given that we share so many values in terms of business ethics, sustainability and food security,” says McCain. “As we move forward into a new decade changed by recent worldwide events, the next generation of business and community leaders will light our way forward. I am confident that we are in great hands.”

McCain and his team at Maple Leaf Foods are deeply committed to being the global leader in sustainable proteins, reflected in ambitious goals to improve nutrition, reduce antibiotic use in livestock, enhance animal care, advance environmental sustainability, and reduce food insecurity nationally and globally. McCain is a director of McCain Capital and Maple Leaf Foods. He is a member of the Richard Ivey School of Business Advisory Board, the Business Council of Canada, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation. He is also the honorary chairman of the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security.

McCain will receive his honorary Doctor of Commerce later this month at the university’s fall convocation ceremony.

Honorary Degree Biography - Michael H. McCain

Michael H. McCain

Michael H. McCain is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s flagship food companies, with sales of $4.3 billion and employing approximately 13,500 people in Canada and the United States.

Mr. McCain has devoted his career to the food industry, starting at McCain Foods in the late 1970s, where he held a variety of roles, including president and chief executive officer of McCain Foods USA. He joined Maple Leaf Foods in 1995. Since then, he has been instrumental in establishing Maple Leaf as a strong and sustainable, values-based company with leading brands and market shares across its businesses and a bold vision for the future.

Mr. McCain and his team are deeply committed to being the global leader in sustainable proteins, reflected in ambitious goals in the advancement of nutrition, reducing antibiotic use in livestock, animal care, environmental sustainability, and enhancing food security nationally and globally.

Mr. McCain is a director of McCain Capital and Maple Leaf Foods. He is a member of the Richard Ivey School of Business Advisory Board, the Business Council of Canada, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation. He is also the honorary chairman of the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security.

Born in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Michael attended Mount Allison University and received an Honours Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario. He also holds honorary degrees from Brock University, Carleton University and Guelph University. He is devoted to his five children and family, and lives in Toronto.

Saint Mary’s University Launches Tuition Waiver for Former Youth in Care

Saint Mary’s University is joining the growing list of post-secondary institutions across Nova Scotia which are reducing barriers to education for students who have lived in the care of the provincial child welfare system and associated services.  

“Education is a driving force for change in the lives of every student who enters our doors,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Each year, we commit almost $9 million in scholarships and bursaries to support students, and we are continually looking for new ways to reduce barriers to scholarship. I am proud to be extending this new opportunity to youth formerly in the care of the province.”  

Students who are eligible for the Saint Mary’s University Post-Care Tuition Waiver Program will receive a bursary that covers up to 100 percent of their tuition and course fees. Applications will open later this fall and will be retroactive to the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester.    

“For people who grew up in care like me, access to post-secondary studies is a game changer,” said Jane Kovarikova, Founder of Child Welfare PAC Canada and PhD Candidate at Western. “I am so grateful to Saint Mary’s for joining the movement to ensure brighter futures for current and former foster kids.”  

The Saint Mary’s University Post-Care Tuition Waiver Program supports individuals who have lived in care for at least one year in the Nova Scotia child welfare system; Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia; and the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children as defined by the Children and Family Services Act, 2017. It also supports those who have received services through the Department of Community Services, Youth Services Program. Additional criteria can be found here.  

Members of the Saint Mary’s University community who are interested in supporting this program through a philanthropic gift can contribute here.  

New SMU Scholarship Celebrates Diversity Excellence

The Diversity Excellence Award recipients with donors Scott McCain and Leslie McLean, Charimsa Grace Walker, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, and Board Chair Larry Freeman

Saint Mary's University is proud to announce a new scholarship for Black and Indigenous students – the Scott McCain and Leslie McLean Diversity Excellence Award.

Made possible by a $500,000 gift from philanthropists Scott McCain and Leslie McLean, the awards are available to full-time undergraduate Indigenous or Black students with financial need. This generous investment was made to Saint Mary’s most ambitious campaign in history - A World Without Limits: The Campaign for Saint Mary’s University, bringing the total amount of funds devoted to diversity excellence scholarships and bursaries to over one million dollars.

"Saint Mary's University celebrates the importance and impact of diverse perspectives," says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "This new scholarship is about creating space for possibility and potential, and it does so through increasing access to post-secondary educations for Black and Indigenous communities. I want to thank Scott and Leslie for their generous gift that will support students from these communities in attending and thriving at Saint Mary's as we work together toward a World without limits."

"Leslie and I both recognize the importance a high-quality education can make in the lives of Canadians, and we want to help reduce barriers to post-secondary education," says Scott McCain.

Every year, eight students will receive the Scott McCain and Leslie McLean Diversity Excellence Award of $2,500 each, which is renewable up to and including the student's fourth year of study. Students can be enrolled in any faculty or program at Saint Mary's. Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, with a preference for students who are from Atlantic Canada.

"Saint Mary's University has shown a commitment to ensuring access and support to post-secondary learning for Black and Indigenous students, and this award will help further that commitment by providing direct assistance to students," says Leslie McLean.

First-year psychology student Teannah McMullen is one of the recipients of this year’s award. "Without this support, I wouldn’t have been able to afford university or had the opportunity to attend Saint Mary’s," says Teannah. "Thank you, Scott and Leslie, for helping me make my dream of studying at Saint Mary’s come true."

Charisma Grace Walker, the African Nova Scotian/Black Student and Community Liaison at Saint Mary's University, is grateful for the new diversity awards, which will help increase access to education for Black and Indigenous students. "Receiving a diversity excellence award can truly change a student's life," says Walker. "Awards like this one can break down barriers to university and create a sense of community and support on campus. It can also alleviate financial worries for students, which enables them to focus on their studies and achieve their goals."

Scott McCain and Leslie McLean with award recipient Brooke Barker and her mother Sonya

Award recipient Paige Carvery, who gave brief remarks at the announcement event on September 1, with her family

Leslie McLean and award recipient Madison Bond

Scott McCain meeting award recipient Teannah McMullen and her mother Shawna

Scott chatting with SMUSA VP Advocacy Kyle Cook and SMUSA President and CEO Franklyn Southwell

The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, Scott’s mother, chatting with the Honourable Myra Freeman and Board Chair Larry Freeman

The Diversity Excellence Award recipients with donors Scott McCain and Leslie McLean, Charimsa Grace Walker, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, and Board Chair Larry Freeman

Saint Mary’s University Appoints New Dean of the Faculty of Science

Saint Mary's University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lori Francis to the position of Dean, Faculty of Science, Saint Mary's University, effective September, 2021. 

"I am honoured to announce the appointment of Dr. Lori Francis as the new Dean of the Faculty of Science," says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "Dr. Francis brings experience and innovation to this exciting role. Her thoughtful leadership will ensure the continuing success of the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s, a Faculty renowned for its international-calibre research and exemplary teaching. I am confident that Dr. Francis will advance our World without limits.”

Dr. Francis joined the Saint Mary’s University Department of Psychology as an Assistant Professor in 2002. Over the course of her career at Saint Mary’s University she actively engaged in research, teaching, and service, being promoted to Full Professor in 2014. In 2017, she joined the Dean of Science team as Associate Dean of Science: Student Affairs and has served as the acting Dean of Science since 2018.  

Originally from rural Newfoundland, Dr. Francis is a first-generation university student in her family. She holds a BSc from St. Francis Xavier University, an MSc from McMaster, and a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Guelph. She lives in Halifax with her husband Brian and their two sons.

Dr. Francis looks forward to supporting and championing faculty, staff, and students in the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University. She believes in pursuing innovative science and achieving academic excellence in an inclusive and accessible environment.

“I am proud of Saint Mary's commitment to science education, research, and outreach,” said Dr. Francis. “I look forward to building upon the efforts of our university's faculty, students, and staff to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and to understand and answer the unique challenges and questions we face in the world today.”

Saint Mary’s University Mandates Vaccine Disclosure for All Faculty, Staff, and Students

Saint Mary’s University will require proof of full vaccination from all faculty, staff, and students. The university will begin collecting this no later than September 3 to ensure the community is ready for the return of classes.  

Anyone who is not fully vaccinated or who refuses to provide proof of vaccination will be required to undergo COVID testing twice per week at on-campus facilities and will be given information about how to access on-campus vaccine clinics or local pharmacies. 

This new measure is in addition to the previously announced COVID-19 Vaccination and Requirements Policy that includes: 

• Mandating all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated by October 15 (those who cannot meet this requirement because of medical or other grounds must apply for an exemption)

• Maintaining masking requirements in all public spaces or in spaces where physical distancing is not possible (including in classrooms and laboratories)

• Enforcing physical distancing requirements

The university is expanding its policy to ensure faculty, staff, and students feel safe returning to campus this September. 

Saint Mary’s will be reporting its vaccination rates regularly to its community through an online report.

More COVID-19 information.

New SMU Scholarship Supports Aspiring Writers of African Nova Scotian Descent

Floyd Kane BA'92, on the set of Diggstown, the show he created.

Saint Mary's University is launching an innovative new scholarship to support aspiring writers of African descent upon graduation.  

“I thought of this as a way to encourage Black Nova Scotians who want to pursue a career in writing,” says Floyd Kane BA’92, a writer, filmmaker and TV producer from East Preston, whose philanthropic gift makes the new award possible for students in the Faculty of Arts.  

“A lot of people’s dreams are limited by their financial backgrounds, and I just wanted to remove that barrier from the equation. So if you have the drive and ambition to pursue your dream, you can go and do it and not have to worry about where your next meal comes from or how you’re going to pay your rent.”

The new Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award is open to students who self-identify as being of African descent, with first priority to students of African Nova Scotian descent. Award recipients will receive $30,000 upon graduation to help mitigate the burden of financial debt; to support them in further post-secondary studies or training such as internships, apprenticeships or self-directed projects; and to advance their aspirations for careers in writing. Find the application form here.

"Saint Mary's recognizes the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in all fields of research and study, including the creative arts and industries," says President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "Writing and storytelling are essential tools for sharing our province's unique histories and experiences. This award will help us support African Nova Scotian students by reducing financial barriers as they embark on their next steps toward careers in writing. We are committed to creating possibilities for our students, celebrating their creative talents, and working together toward a World without limits."     

Floyd Kane BA'92

After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Kane’s next steps were a law degree then working as legal counsel and a production executive on such notable film and TV projects as This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Shake Hands with the Devil, and the Oscar-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine. But writing was always his first love so he eventually chose to make it a more central aspect of his career, starting with his drama series North/South. He has since written for numerous TV shows and produced the 2015 feature film, Across the Line, his story about a North Preston hockey player aiming for a professional career on the ice.

“One of the things I realized as I got into the industry is that I never saw Black Nova Scotians portrayed in Canadian film and television, so that was a goal I wanted to accomplish, to be able to bring those stories to the screen,” says Kane.

Those stories are resonating widely with audiences, not just in Canada. His acclaimed series Diggstown, which shot its third season in Halifax this summer, airs nationally on CBC-TV and will soon be seen in the U.S. on the FOX network. The show’s central character Marcie Diggs is a legal aid lawyer from North Preston who surfs in her spare time and works hard for her clients, challenging social injustices that strike a universal chord far beyond Nova Scotia. 

Kane recalls local tourism ads from the time he was growing up: “It was all these people who were sailing and surfing and having lobster dinners. And they were all white. What I love about Diggstown is that it’s an opportunity to recast the Nova Scotia narrative but it puts Black and Indigenous people at the centre of it.”

That sense of possibility in storytelling ignited for him as an undergrad at Saint Mary’s. Kane started out as a Commerce major, switching to Arts after producing a play at age 19. In a pivotal course in 19th century literature, one of his projects was tackling an update to the 1847 classic, Wuthering Heights. “I just loved the idea that I could take this book and put Black people into the narrative in a textual way. There has always been talk that Brontë may have intended Heathcliff to be Black.”

Kane maintains a close connection with Saint Mary’s by serving as a member of the Board of Governors, and he’s thrilled to help create this opportunity for aspiring writers, to reduce financial roadblocks as they graduate.

“I really hope it’s transformational for those who will receive it. I hope it helps them to continue to pursue whatever dreams they have,” he says.

The award is named for his mother Edna and his late aunt Velma, who always supported his dreams. 

“Everything starts with them,” says Kane. “Even though we were poor, my mother made sure we never wanted for anything. My aunt bought me a Smith Corona typewriter when I was in Grade 7, and I taught myself to type. The first things I ever wrote were on that machine. Professionally, she’s the reason why I’m here and personally, my mom inspired the ambition that got me here. So I wanted to honour those two great Black Nova Scotian women who never had the opportunities I had.”

A writing career isn’t limited to writing novels, poems or film scripts, he adds. For award eligibility, it could be anything from creative writing to non-fiction history books, digital communications, or continuing an academic path in an Arts and Humanities discipline. As part of the application process, available soon on the website, students will submit a personal statement essay outlining their career goals.

Kane’s main advice for young writers?

“Don’t give up,” he says. “Don’t be dissuaded by naysayers. Keep doing the work. Put your head down and just persevere …. In all honesty, this is the only thing I could ever see myself doing.”

For information on the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award, including the online application form, see Faculty of Arts Awards and Funding. 

News release: New SMU Scholarship Supports Aspiring Writers of African Nova Scotia Descent

Floyd Kane BA'92, on the set of the show he created, DIggstown.

Saint Mary's University is launching an innovative new scholarship to support aspiring writers of African descent upon graduation.  

"I know the challenges and barriers that face aspiring writers of African Nova Scotian descent because that’s my lived experience," says Floyd Kane BA'92, the person behind this generous philanthropic gift. "This award is named in honour of my mother and aunt—two women who supported my dreams from the beginning.  I am proud to have the opportunity to pass along that support to the next generation of African Nova Scotian writers via an award that bears their name." 

The Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award has three main goals. To mitigate the burden of financial debt and insecurity for undergraduate students of African Nova Scotian descent in the Faculty of Arts. To support them in pursuing further post-secondary studies or training such as internships, apprenticeships, self-directed projects. And lastly, to advance their aspirations for careers in writing. The award recipient will receive $30,000 in support of these goals.

"Saint Mary's recognizes the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in all fields of research and study, including the creative arts and industries," says Saint Mary's University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "Writing and storytelling are essential tools for sharing our province's unique histories and experiences. This award will help us support African Nova Scotian students by reducing financial barriers as they embark on their next steps toward careers in writing. We are committed to creating possibilities for our students at Saint Mary's, celebrating their creative talents, and working together toward a World without limits."   

A member of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors, Kane is a successful writer, filmmaker and television producer with numerous projects shot internationally – and in Nova Scotia, such as the feature film Across the Line (2014) and current hit TV series Diggstown, airing nationally on CBC-TV and soon in the U.S. on the FOX network. Kane grew up in East Preston and currently resides in Toronto. He was inspired to establish the award as a result of seeing talented fellow African Nova Scotian writers face challenges in pursuing careers in the arts and culture sectors due to barriers such as limited access to financial support.

The Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award is available for applications this academic year. For details and the online award application form, see Faculty of Arts Awards and Funding.