International Student Satisfaction and Well-Being: New Research by the ARGEIAD

The Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGEIAD) has received funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to conduct new research on the well-being and overall satisfaction of international students who come to Atlantic Canada for schooling.

“Understanding the well-being of these students is imperative to retaining them in the region after their studies,” says ARGEIAD Chair Dr. Ather H. Akbari. A decline in natural population growth in Atlantic Canada means that immigrants to the region are an important demographic to prevent labour shortages. International students who stay after graduation are invaluable for avoiding these skill shortages, and for increasing the population of Atlantic Canada.

Although the attraction and retention of international students has become a focal point for immigration strategies adopted by provincial governments in Canada, there has been little research done to track whether they stay in the area after graduation. ARGEIAD’s new project plans to delve into the various factors that affect the well-being of international students, which should provide an insight as to whether students will want to stay in Atlantic Canada. Additionally, this research may also provide valuable insights for university and college administrators on how to improve their supports and services for international students.

Although in its beginning stages, this new project has the potential to highlight areas where international students do not feel satisfied or supported. By identifying these gaps, this research could help international student initiatives to improve their programs, and increase retention of these students.

The goal of ARGEIAD is to promote research and mobilize knowledge focusing on the economic significance of immigration, diversity and aging. Learn more about the centre and their research or sign up for their newsletter.

Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies Win for Sobey School Student

Laura Eamon
Photo: Steve Smith - VisionFire Studios

Laura Eamon, a fifth-year student at the Sobey School of Business who is completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics, was awarded the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies.

"We continue to be inspired by the talent, leadership and entrepreneurialism shining through students at Atlantic Canadian business schools," says Paul D. Sobey, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Laura is one of only nine recipients of the $35,000 award given to undergraduate students of Business Studies in universities across the Atlantic Provinces.

“We are thrilled that Laura has earned this award,” says Dean Harjeet Bhabra of the Sobey School of Business, who selected Laura for consideration by the awards committee. “Our school is committed to providing the highest quality of business education and preparing our graduates to lead entrepreneurial and sustainable businesses and communities. Laura’s win shows that our students’ achievements in their academic studies are matched by their engagement with and contributions to the broader communities.”

All full-time business students attending Atlantic universities are eligible for consideration. Deans of Business at each university nominate candidates based on entrepreneurship, supporting the communities in which they live and work, and their employment experience.

Laura, a part-time project coordinator with the Sackville Business Association and a member of the Saint Mary’s University Environmental Society, credits her sobriety – she has been in recovery for eight years – as the reason for her success. In addition to wanting to bridge the gap between the environmental and business sectors in Nova Scotia, Laura views her win as confirmation that people in recovery can have a positive impact.

“It’s an immense honour to receive the Frank H. Sobey Excellence in Business Studies and to celebrate the Sobey legacy,” says Laura. “All of my hard work has been validated, and my sobriety is the reason I’m here. The support from the university and Sobey family is immeasurable, and I look forward to continuing those relationships for a long time.”

The award recipients are selected by the Frank H. Sobey Awards Board of Trustees comprised of Atlantic Canadian business and academic leaders. Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies have awarded more than $2.5 Million to business students in the four Atlantic Provinces.

The Scarborough Charter in the UN Decade for People of African Descent: Transforming Relationships

Please join Saint Mary’s University, the Office of Diversity Excellence and the Office of People and Culture in marking the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with a presentation by Dr. Adelle Blackett.

Dr. Blackett is a Professor of Law and the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Transnational Labour Law and Development at the Faculty of Law, McGill University. She holds a B.A. in History from Queen’s University, civil law and common law degrees from McGill, and an LL.M. and a doctorate in law from Columbia University. 

Monday, March 21 
6:30 p.m. AST
Virtual event: Zoom 

Saint Mary's Sweeps to Victory at Enactus Canada Atlantic Regional Exposition

Innovation and a love for social entrepreneurship were well rewarded for Enactus Saint Mary's students this past Saturday. Enactus Saint Mary's students won first place in all three categories (financial education, climate action and entrepreneurship) at the Enactus Canada Atlantic Regional Exposition. Next up, students will move on to pitch at the Enactus Canada National Exposition, held virtually this May.    

"Having the ability to apply the theories we learn in class to support our community is truly the best way to learn," says Maddie Bristol, Co-President of Enactus Saint Mary's. "We are so excited that our programming was recognized at the Enactus Regional Exposition and look forward to Nationals this May!"  

Options Online, the team’s unique virtual education program, took home the gold in the CWB Financial Literacy competition. Options Online is a digital pivot from the previous in-person Options Youth program created to support Nova Scotia-based youth facing multiple barriers to employment. The global award-winning programming shifted to online learning amidst the pandemic, removing the barrier of location-based accessibility.  

Square Roots, a food-security program created in 2016, was presented in the TD Entrepreneurship and Scotiabank Climate Change challenges, winning first place titles. Since 2016, the program has expanded from its original bundle service model to partnering with local entrepreneurs, encouraging the creation of sustainable products using food waste. Little Branches, a zero-waste matcha bar company, along with a new business that's partnered with a local coffee shop to include coffee grains in their soaps, were among the businesses highlighted in the pitches.  

"I am so proud of the work our students have done this year," says Michael Sanderson, Director of Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre. "Their continued perseverance and dedication to community wellness and education, especially during such a tough time, are what make their social enterprises as successful as they have been."  

Enactus Saint Mary's is a student-led organization that uses entrepreneurial action to change the community in a positive way. With over 50 students involved, they are currently operating projects involving food-based social enterprises, entrepreneurship coaching and employability training programs for at-risk youth. Enactus Saint Mary's is proud to partner with the Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre to offer its programs.  

Accessibility Week at Saint Mary's

Join the Fred Smithers Centre as we celebrate Accessibility Week at Saint Mary's from March 21 to 25, 2022. The Fred Smithers Centre will offer virtual events exploring how to create accessible environments, accessibility in higher education and the post-COVID-19 world, and more. For a full list of events please see below.

Learn more about the Centre and the services we offer.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. All events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription. Please email fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca for other accessibility requests and specific accommodation

Schedule of Events

Keynote Speaker, Cynthia Bruce

Monday, March 21 
noon-1:00 p.m. 
Virtual Event: Zoom

Join us as we welcome keynote speaker Cynthia Bruce as she details her experience supporting accessibility legislation and exploring the future of accessibility in a post-COVID world.

Accessing Mental Health & Accessibility Services as an International Student

Tuesday, March 22
1:00-2:00 p.m. 
Virtual Event: Zoom

Discussion and workshop to material to focus on barriers to access, methods of support, philosophical differences and beliefs. This event is open to student, staff and faculty.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. All events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription.

Welcome to the Student Success Centre

Wednesday, March 23
10:00-11:00 a.m. 
Virtual Event: Zoom

Welcome to the Student Success Centre – the new hub for support for student learning! Please join us with guest speakers Amy McEvoy, Manager of the Student Success Centre and Emma Sylvester, Learning Strategist as they discuss their new positions within the Student Success Centre.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. All events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription.

Pathways to Accessible Employment: The SEI Program

Wednesday, March 23
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Virtual Event: Zoom

Are you a student looking for employment but not sure where to start? Look no further! Join this interactive session to learn more about the Student Employment Initiative Program and Wage Subsidy (SEI). SEI is a program that supports students with disabilities in securing employment with on and off-campus employers, gaining volunteer experience, and developing their professional skills and competencies.

The Fred Smithers Centre strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. All events will have sign language interpreting and real-time transcription.

Accessibility & The Physical Environment

Thursday, March 24
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Virtual Event: Zoom

Join guest speaker Matthew Glynn, an engineer in Halifax NS and a former student of the Fred Smithers Centre as he discusses his experience of engineering, accessibility and the physical environment. A session for faculty, staff and students.

Enable the Environment

Friday, March 25
1:00-2:00 p.m.
Virtual Event: Zoom

Facilitators Jennifer Green, Manager of the Fred Smithers Centre and Jennifer Webb, Educational Developer, Learning Experience will define what an enabling environment is and provide practical guidance and instruction on how to make your classroom or space an enabling environment. A session for faculty and staff.

What leadership means to student behind this year’s Student Leadership Conference

Third-year science student Muiz Demilade Adebayo

As we look ahead to this year’s Student Leadership Conference, we checked in with computer science and psychology student Muiz Demilade Adebayo, one of the student leaders behind this year’s conference. We asked Demilade, who has spent his last three years at Saint Mary’s getting deeply involved in our community, what leadership means to him.

“It can mean having the ability to inspire others around you to be their best selves and achieve their full potential,” he says.

And the Student Leadership Conference, now taking place on Saturday, March 19, hopes to do just that—inspire students with a full day of discussions, panels, and workshops. At the conference, students will explore what leadership means to them, and gain tangible takeaways to strengthen their own leadership skills.

“Everyone will use leadership skills at some point,” says Demilade. “It’s best to learn about leadership skills and explore the leadership styles that fit you best now. That way, you’re ready for when you can put your leadership skills into practice.”

At the conference, students will kickoff the leadership conversation with speakers including Tom Brophy, Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs and Services). Then students will join keynote speaker Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, Associate Vice-President (Diversity Excellence), to explore what leadership looks like in practice. Next, students will take part in one of three concurrent sessions to sharpen their own leadership skills.

Leadership starts, says Demilade with listening to and learning from others. From being a Pack Leader and a Student Life Coordinator in Student Affairs and Services, to volunteering across campus, Demilade has always sought new opportunities to learn.

“I want to build my experience,” says Demilade of his volunteer work on and off campus. “I also want to socialize with people from different backgrounds, while learning from them.”

And what is the most important skill a leader can have?

“Empathy,” Demilade shares. “Leadership is broad and different, and there are lots of things a person can do to exhibit the signs of a leader. But leadership works best when we pay attention to the needs of people around us and support what works for them.”

Saint Mary’s students can sign up now for the Student Leadership Conference. To find out what happens at the conference, stay up-to-date with Saint Mary’s Student Life on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Power of Poetry in Women and Gender Studies Research

Angela Bowden and Claire Yurkovich (standing)

 The process of writing poetry may have healing benefits for trauma, especially when the writing happens in a communal setting. That’s what student Claire Yurkovich is hoping to find out through her graduate research at Saint Mary’s University.

“There is something so special about creating in a shared space, and this became very central to my research in poetic healing,” says Yurkovich, who is in the final stretch of her Master of Arts degree program in Women and Gender Studies (WGST).

In February, she facilitated a series of four 90-minute community workshops to explore poetry’s therapeutic benefits as a tool for processing trauma related to sexual violence. Some participants had no prior experience writing poetry, so the first session introduced poetic vocabulary, forms and other writing devices. The next two sessions focused on writing, with a variety of prompts. In the final session, the budding poets shared their creations with the group.

“Writing poetry allows for a processing of your own emotions around difficult topics, but it also creates the potential for other individuals to read and resonate with your words, and space for shared experiences to emerge,” she says.

Poetry is also a central element of Angela Bowden’s graduate work in Women and Gender Studies here at Saint Mary’s. Born and raised in New Glasgow, she is an accomplished author, speaker and activist whose writing draws upon her lived experiences as an African Nova Scotian woman and mother of three sons. She aims to ignite conversations around social justice, systemic racism’s perseverance, and the connections between historical trauma and current inequalities, while also honouring ancestors and inspiring young people.  

Bowden’s first poetry collection, Unspoken Truth – Unmuted and Unfiltered, was published in 2021 by Pottersfield Press, and she’s now working on a children’s book for Black girls. She was recently celebrated in a feature story on the website Amplify East, which aims to “change the voice of Atlantic Canada one woman at a time.”  

“Poetry, much like music, provides a platform for difficult topics to be expressed and received without direct argument or confrontation,” says Bowden. “Poetry is able to take us beyond the cerebral understanding and into a place I like to refer to as ‘innerstanding’; a place where you are touched so profoundly that you are motivated to change. It can result when poetry moves through difficult topics unapologetically in a truth telling that forces a reconciliation and calls for change on behalf of the recipient.”

While writing UnSpoken Truth, she realized that many of her poems were grounded in women and gender issues. Her son was attending Saint Mary’s, and Bowden ended up meeting with Dr. Michele Byers to learn more about the WGST graduate program.

“I learned that it is critical to the understanding, ‘innerstanding’ and healing of Black women and our society to be a part of the larger conversations that are taking place in academia about us and around us; intersectionality and various feminist theories not only apply to us but are us. I am learning, teaching and sharing knowledge,” she says.

Mavis Mainu

Mavis Mainu of Ghana was living in Germany when her best friend recommended Saint Mary’s for graduate studies. With her interdisciplinary interests in climate change, migration and gender issues, she felt the WGST program was the perfect fit for her research, and would build on her first master’s degree in Development Studies and Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen. She lives in Berlin, so the main challenge was juggling a busy work schedule with Halifax classes that sometimes went past midnight with the time zone differences.

Mainu works at Climate Analytics, a non-profit climate science and policy institute where her current role is administrative and operational in nature. Her goal is to shift into a content role that focuses gender and adaptation, climate research and analysis, so she can contribute to the much-needed academic literature in the intersection of these issues.

“Before I undertook this degree, I was working on a lot of projects for women and girls but did not have the academic background to complement the practical skills or experience,” says Mainu. “This program is empowering and preparing me to work in areas that I am passionate about.”

Mainu is a co-founder of the Oak Foundation, an NGO that nurtures young women in education and entrepreneurship in Ghana, and is also a Climate Reality Leader, a Queens Young Leader, Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and a One Young World Ambassador.

Learn more about the Graduate Program in Women and Gender Studies at Saint Mary’s, and the undergraduate Minor in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. 

Challenge Yields Confidence for Saint Mary's Alumna Sage Outerbridge

Sage Outerbridge

Challenges and setbacks are a part of life, and for Sage Outerbridge BComm’19 MBA’21, they are just steps to overcome. “Life changes,” she says, “You just need to adapt.”

Outerbridge found herself adapting quickly when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Rather than pressing pause on her life, she took the opportunity to further her education, start a business, and find a way to give back to her community.

As lockdowns and public health restrictions closed many businesses to the public, Outerbridge saw possibility within the limitations.

“I felt like I had become a part of a family in my MBA program”

— Sage Outerbridge

“Gyms aren’t open, so why don’t I create a business selling fitness gear? That way, people will be able to work out from home with proper equipment,” she says of So ConFitdent, her e-commerce fitness store. With messaging focused on building confidence through fitness, Outerbridge’s positive outlook shines clearly through her business.

Mid-pandemic, Outerbridge also returned to Saint Mary’s to pursue her MBA. While online schooling proved challenging for many, she and her classmates worked hard to help and support each other.

“I felt like I had become a part of a family in my MBA program,” she says. “The experience helped me grow both as a team player and as a leader. The self-confidence I gained in my MBA led me to seize opportunities I never would have before.”

One such opportunity is to work as a Field Officer for the Black Business Initiative (BBI), one of four intermediaries of the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI). The BBI’s vision is a dynamic and vibrant black presence within the Nova Scotia business community. Outerbridge’s role is to interface with businesses that have been awarded funding, and then help to provide ongoing support.

“The MBA program courses that I took really ignited my passion for corporate-social responsibility and social enterprise,” she says. “I’m glad I’m a part of an organization helping black-led businesses that might not have been able to receive support because of systemic barriers they face. Igniting change through work makes me very proud.”

Hailing from Hamilton Parish in Bermuda, Outerbridge first came to Saint Mary’s University in 2015 to pursue her Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics. Moving from Bermuda to Halifax was a stark change but, looking back, even then Outerbridge focused on the positives.

“My school back in Bermuda had a population of about 400 people,” she says. “Saint Mary’s University’s small community and international reputation brought me a lot of comfort. Despite how different my living situation was, I was able to feel at home.”

While Outerbridge has demonstrated resiliency throughout her education and career thus far, she says that kind of confidence only comes when you believe in yourself, in particular in the face of challenge

“Throughout my life, I’ve had moments where I’ve doubted my own capabilities,” she says. “You may not always feel ready when an opportunity presents itself, but you never know until you try, and you need to take that plunge to grow as a person. Confidence grows as you challenge yourself.”

Learn more about the MBA program at the Sobey School of Business.

Preventing Falls and Balance Issues in Nova Scotians

Understanding and combating the debilitating health impacts of balance disorders is the focus of newly funded research by Saint Mary’s University’s Dr. Danielle Tokarz. Her research will help patients by limiting the dosage of certain medications, reducing the future number of Nova Scotians who will have balance issues.

Dr. Danielle Tokarz

The idea for the project came years earlier during Dr. Tokarz’s graduate studies when she was involved in a pilot study on otoconia crystals, showing that they have a very interesting interaction with a high peak power laser. While investigating this opportunity, she realized otoconia degeneration affected someone she knew personally; her good friend had chronic vertigo and became bedridden after a car accident two years earlier.

“She would tell me about the dizzy spells that prevented her from being able to leave her house—sometimes she had to just stay in bed to avoid falling and it really impacted her life,” explains Dr. Tokarz. The possibility that a research avenue can have a real impact motivated Dr. Tokarz to participate in that pilot study and continue its study at Saint Mary’s University.

Dr. Tokarz’s approach to this field of study has earned her an impressive New Investigator Grant from Research Nova Scotia with funding worth $100,000 over two years. Titled “Investigating Otoconia Ultrastructure during Degeneration,” the project focuses on otoconia and the role they play in balance disorders. A major health issue, especially for seniors, the loss of balance can lead to falls, bone fractures and dizziness that can leave patients bedridden for extended periods.

Otoconia are micron-sized crystals in the inner ear. They are a key part of the vestibular system, which provides our brain with information on motion, head position and spatial orientation. Otoconia are critical for being able to walk without falling.

“Otoconia can degrade due to aging and as a result of some prescribed pharmaceuticals,” explains Dr. Tokarz. “Since otoconia don’t regenerate themselves, the medical therapies we have available today have limited effect since they can only treat the symptoms.”

Because otoconia are so close to the brain, it is important to perform ex vivo studies—studies that take place outside of a living organism such as a person. This research will focus on how and why the otoconia crystals degrade. Furthermore, since otoconia tend to degrade from the inside out, a specialized technique is needed to visualize the damage. Dr. Tokarz and her team will use an ultrafast laser microscope to visualize the interior of the crystals and determine their degradation level. The research is expected to result in very early detection of otoconia degeneration, allowing the team to develop methods to both prevent degeneration of otoconia, and induce and promote repair and regeneration.

“The goal of this project is to establish both the onset of otoconia degeneration and to understand its dominant mechanisms, including the internal and external structural changes that occur,” said Dr. Tokarz. “To achieve this goal, we will use a mouse model to classify the crystalline structure of otoconia, and to characterize the structural changes that occur to mice otoconia during aging, as well as due to acute use of certain pharmaceuticals.”

There are several antibiotics amongst aminoglycosides that are toxic to the vestibular system in very high amounts; low-level damage is difficult to detect, meaning safe dosage levels have not been established. This research will also provide a platform for testing therapies for similar vestibular disorders.

Dr. Tokarz has already mapped out future research plans based on this work that will continue to enhance health care for Nova Scotians.

Learn more about the programs, opportunities and research within our Chemistry Department.

About the Grants

Research Nova Scotia awarded a total of $1.48 million in funding to 15 research projects at six Nova Scotia universities and healthcare centers through its New Health Investigator Grant for the 2021-22 year.

The New Health Investigator Grant supports early-career health researchers who are engaged in work that aligns with the province’s health research priorities. The grant aims to provide two years of support of up to $100,000 for researchers who are within the first five years of their academic appointment in Nova Scotia or who are new to the field of health research. Funding provided will support the establishment of independent programs of research, support and expand the research productivity necessary for obtaining long term funding from national and external agencies and expand the potential for early-career investigators to make significant contributions in their field. For the 2021-22 academic year, funding for this grant is provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.

Social Justice, Diversity, Inclusion, Activism and Entrepreneurship: Introducing Saint Mary’s RBC Talent Hub Team

April Howe EMBA'18, the new RBC Talent Hub Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the Saint Mary's University's Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC)

Social justice, diversity, inclusion, activism and entrepreneurship. Powerful words that offer a peek into the hearts of the amazing women joining Saint Mary's University's RBC Talent Hub team.

"I am so proud to return to Saint Mary's University and give back to the next generation of amazing Canadian entrepreneurs," says April Howe EMBA'18, the new RBC Talent Hub Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the Saint Mary's University's Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC). "My intent is to provide mentorship, guidance and advice to students that was instrumental to me in my entrepreneurial journey, and I can't wait to start."

Howe has been an active voice for diversity and inclusion in Nova Scotia for many years. Her consultancy, Crayon Strategies Inc., works extensively with clients across Canada and the US from various sectors, including pharmacare, health care, finance engineering, tech, not-for-profit, and the start-up sector. Howe is the provincial Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Previously she held senior government roles of Senior Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Justice. Before that, she was the Executive Director of People and Culture at the Public Service Commission and led the provincial Diversity and Inclusion strategy development. April was a Partner with Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette for 16 years leading their Career Transition practice. As a community volunteer, she served on the boards of the United Way, the IWK Foundation, the Halifax Partnership, the Black Business Initiative, and the North End Community Health Center. As a proud descendant, she was a founding board director and went on to be Board Chair of the Africville Heritage Trust.

“The RBC Talent Hub is very fortunate to have April Howe joining as the new Entrepreneur-In-Residence,” says Kellie Sauriol, RBC’s Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, Atlantic Canada. “It is incredibly rare to have someone with such a rich background in both the private and public sectors available to guide and foster young entrepreneurs. Also, it speaks to the high quality of the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre itself that they continue to successfully bring in accomplished people like April to this role. I know the students will benefit greatly from her leadership.”

"Any time you can have someone with the experience of April join your team and work with students, it is an amazing win for your program," says Michael Sanderson, Director, SMUEC. "We are ecstatic to have April joining us and bring her wealth of experience across a variety of sectors to her work at Saint Mary's."

The Saint Mary's University RBC Talent Hub is an expansive initiative designed to support students on their entrepreneurial journey. Through co-operative education, internship placements, training, Entrepreneurial Mindset Success Certificate, and mentorship, the RBC Talent Hub provides an exceptional opportunity to students for additional hands-on learning opportunities. The skills developed through this program aim to give students an edge in beginning their careers and help them to excel in the workplace post-graduation. The program is made possible with support from RBC Foundation and is entering its fourth year.

"The success of our past Entrepreneurs-in-Residence: Gregg Curwin, Shannon Susko, and Leah Skerry have reinforced how important it is to have experienced individuals available to coach and mentor students as they develop their skills and create a plan for their future," says Sanderson. "To support their work, we brought in other experts to assist students through training and coaching, such as recent alumni, local professionals, and faculty. These additional supports alongside a seasoned entrepreneur proved so successful that we are expanding the RBC Talent Hub to include these new roles on a more permanent basis."  

Kaitlyn Touesnard BComm'13, Alumni-In-Residence at SMUEC.

Joining the RBC Talent Hub team at Saint Mary's in the newly created Alumni-In-Residence roles will be Kaitlyn Touesnard BComm'13 and Sehmat Suri BComm'19. 

Kaitlyn Touesnard has been managing the Atlantic Canadian Chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) since Spring of 2020. She works closely with the over 80 entrepreneurs that make up EO's Membership to help them reach their full potential. Previous to her role at EO, she was the President and Founder of Crescendo Events. From a few small events to events with over 1,000 attendees, she grew the business for five years. Kaitlyn was named Planner of the Year for Atlantic Canada in 2019 by Meeting Professionals International. In 2012, Kaitlyn was named HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow for Atlantic Canada for her work with the Saint Mary's University Enactus Team.

Sehmat Suri BComm'19, Alumni-In-Residence at SMUEC.

Sehmat Suri BComm'19 is a digital media specialist, model, blogger, actor, and tv host. She moved to Halifax from India in 2014 and pursued a BA in Psychology and a BComm in Marketing at Saint Mary's. She has represented the university at national and international conferences and ran a local business for a year which led her to start modelling and growing her Instagram presence in 2017. She has since worked for companies like Sport Chek, Kent, Tic Tac, Tresemme and Tourism Nova Scotia and is one of the hosts of the travel show "Ocean Playground" on Eastlink. Sehmat currently works at m5 Marketing Communications and is expanding her online presence in the lifestyle, comedy, and social justice fields.

This latest expansion is just the beginning of new support for Saint Mary's University students through SMUEC. Later this year, more new volunteer positions are set to join the RBC Talent Hub. Their focus will be to provide students with more access to professionals such as lawyers, accountants, human resources, bankers and more. SMUEC also plans to increase integration with the world-leading experts amongst Saint Mary's faculty by adding dedicated faculty members to the RBC Talent Hub team.

Showcasing Student Business Excellence with Style: The Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch Competition

Do you hear that sound? It is the sound of thousands of people clicking the link to watch the 2022 Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch Competition.

The competition showcases post-secondary student pitchers throughout March. Modelled after the NCAA March Madness basketball competition, 64 student entrepreneurs from across Canada will be selected to compete head-to-head in brackets as they strive to have their pitch idea declared the best in the country.

This national competition is a destination for Canada's top student entrepreneurs. It features twenty-four universities from coast to coast, from as far west as the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta, to participants from central Canada such as the University of Waterloo, Carleton University, and Western University. Eastern Canada is also well represented with many participants, including HEC Montreal, Mount Allison University, Saint Mary's University and the Memorial University of Newfoundland, to name but a few.

“The best of the best face each other in this tournament, where the student team with the best business pitch can win $10,000 to support their start-up,” says Michael Sanderson, Director, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC). “That said, there isn’t only one team that wins as the finalists receive support for business leaders and experts to hone their pitches while the third and fourth place teams walk away with $1000 and second place leaves with $5000—all to support their business ideas.” 

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. For SMUEC, a pandemic wouldn’t stop them from providing an avenue for a diverse group of student entrepreneurs to apply the skills they learned in the classroom to a competitive business environment. Enter the first Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch competition in 2021, all online.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage students, and last year we recognized the challenges for in-person gatherings, so we began to look beyond solutions and seek opportunities,” says Michael Sanderson, Director, SMUEC. “We took inspiration from the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament and realized the opportunity to do a similar tournament but for business pitches. The online environment allowed us to bypass traditional logistical challenges like location, venue, travel availability for judges to name a few. It brought a whole new dimension to what was possible for a large-scale pitch competition.”

As last year’s tournament progressed, thousands of viewers from around the world tuned in to support their favourites and follow the action. To keep up to date on all the latest teams, pitches and results, visit https://smuec.ca/march_madness/ or www.facebook.com/smuec.ca for the live streams.

Message from the President in support of Ukraine

Speaking on behalf of Saint Mary’s University, I want to express my deep concern with the hostile incursion taking place in Ukraine and its impact on the Ukrainian people. As a university with strong international ties, and as scientists, humanists and scholars, we unite with the international community in calling for peace and an immediate end to the invasion. Saint Mary’s University stands with the people of Ukraine and the many members of the Ukrainian Community here in Canada.

We recognize that students, faculty, and staff may be affected by the conflict and want to remind our community that the university has a range of resources in place:

Students can access mental health supports including free confidential 1-1 counselling, through the Saint Mary’s University Counselling Centre. International students can also access supports through the International Student Centre.

Students seeking phone- or text-based mental health support services can contact Good2Talk by calling 1-833-292-3698 or texting Good2TalkNS to 686868.

Staff may access the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

Faculty and Professional Librarians should contact the Union Office at unionoffice@smufu.org or 902 496 8090 to determine options available for counselling.

Rob Summerby-Murray
President and Vice-Chancellor