Pioneering N.S. filmmaker Margaret Perry focus of three-night event series with FIN, N.S. Archive

Margaret Perry

The career work of pioneering Nova Scotia filmmaker Margaret Perry is being showcased with a digital release, artist interventions, and three nights of events from the Atlantic International Film Festival, the Nova Scotia Archives and a team led by a Saint Mary's University researcher.

"Margaret Perry is one of the most influential yet unknown people in Nova Scotia in the 20th century. Her promotional films about the province offer us a glimpse into how Nova Scotia saw itself in the 40s, 50s and 60s, or at least how the government wanted others to see the province," says Saint Mary's University Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer VanderBurgh, and the lead organizer behind the events. "Although these are technically government films, they are also documentaries and artist-made works. Perry's influence can be felt in all her films. She was very interested in highlighting women's labour, cooperative labour, and how things were done or made. The films reflect her interests and understanding of Nova Scotia."

The event series, Activating an Archive: Margaret Perry and the Nova Scotia Film Bureau, mark the digital release of the career work of Margaret Perry, one of Canada's most important and least-known woman filmmakers and early film bureaucrats.

The events are:

• Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • A reception at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia.

• Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at 6:10 p.m.

  • A sample screening of Perry’s work in film and a Q&A at FIN, the Atlantic International Film Festival.

• Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, at 7 p.m.

  • A talk by Dr. Jennifer VanderBurgh at the Halifax Central Library, discussing the collection, the process of digitizing/activating it (and some related ethical complexities), and the discovery of materials that shed new light on Perry’s artistic development and filmmaking practice. 

Dr. Jennifer VanderBurgh

Starting out in New Brunswick as a wartime projectionist where she taught herself to make short films about everyday life, Perry went to Ottawa to work with John Grierson at the National Film Board of Canada. In 1945, Perry moved to Halifax to become Director of the Nova Scotia Film Bureau, where between 1945-1969 she made and oversaw the production of over fifty promotional films that depicted Nova Scotia as a tourist destination, an industrial and agricultural centre, and a complex site of cultural heritage.

"For a long time, this collection has been ignored, often without being seen, on charges of being boring government film,” says Dr. VanderBurgh. “In reframing and animating this collection as artist-made works, we're reconsidering the significance of these films, what they remember, and some of the ethical considerations and responsibilities of activating the collection in Nova Scotia today."

More information about Margaret Perry and the Nova Scotia Film Bureau Films and the research of Dr. Vanderburgh and her research team.

Huskies football season kicks off with a win

Student getting a husky paw print face painted

Football game in action

Two fans cheering on the huskies with a sign

Football game in action

Fans in the crowd with a sign supporting the huskies

Football game in action

Fans cheering on the huskies with a sign

Saint Mary’s Huskies football team defeated the Acadia Axemen 31-11 in a successful Home Opener on Friday night.  

We were excited to welcome fans back to Huskies Stadium and kick off the season. The Quad was alive with activity before the game: SMU Alumni hosted a Husky Cookout with live music, and SMUSA members were doling out all things Huskies spirit—face paint, noisemakers, and more—as fans got ready to cheer on their team. During the lively game, food and drinks were served at the Courtside Lounge, a beer garden and BBQ.   

It was great to come together to kick off the season, and cheer on our Huskies! Congratulations to the entire team who defeated the Acadia Axemen and thank you to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters for coming out. 

Stay tuned at smuhuskies.ca for more games this season.

Sobey School of Business launches Dean’s Annual Community Report

The Sobey School of Business has released its Dean’s Annual Community Report (PDF), a publication that highlights key projects, initiatives and events at the Sobey School of Business from January 2021 to April 2022.

During the 16-month period of the report, the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the Sobey School of Business showed their commitment to a world without limits. Through their efforts, the school played and continues to play a key leadership role in the Atlantic business community. The report highlights activities and initiatives that reflect Elevating Impact, the 2020-2025 strategic plan of the Sobey School. Elevating Impact states the three key commitments of the school: to advance teaching and learning, foster an environment of intellectual discovery that inspires research excellence, and to engage with the broader community to address issues of local and global significance.

This year’s report touches on a wide variety of highlights. New academic programs were launched while old programs were revamped to address emerging education needs in the business world, while research initiatives that targeted our local communities in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada were undertaken. Events to support and uplift diverse communities were created, and Sobey students went above and beyond in their pursuit for academic excellence.

“The Sobey School of Business has a proud history of excellence in business education, and the outstanding work of our faculty, staff and students,” says Dean Harjeet S. Bhabra. “Reading through this publication, I am sure you will see how the Sobey School of Business is making an impact with purpose.”

46th Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament Photo Gallery

Congratulations to Team Baker Tilly Nova Scotia Inc for winning this year's Tournament. Congratulations to Team Capital Paper and Team SMUSA on 2nd and 3rd places. Also, congratulations to the top 3 Net scoring teams - Molson, SMU President's Team, and TD Insurance.

Thanks to all our sponsors for their generous support of the tournament. With their involvement and your participation, we were able to provide 20 Golf Bursaries to hardworking Saint Mary's students.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, and we hope to see you back at our tournament next year.

Join Saint Mary's Young Alumni Committee

Great News - we are recruiting members for the Saint Mary's Young Alumni Committee(SMUYA) now!

Join SMUYA to celebrate young alumni and their achievements and attend events as a YA representative throughout the year.

We're looking for enthusiastic candidates who want to make an impact and give back to the SMU Community.

Learn more about SMUYA and submit your application today!

SMU Alumni: Volunteer to be an Honour Guard

Another academic year is coming to an end and we're excited to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2022 grads at Fall Convocation!

We look forward to having a strong showing of our alumni for Honour Guard this year to welcome all the new graduates into the alumni family.

Honour Guard members will walk ahead of the students during the procession and lead them out at the end, signifying their transition from student to alumni. This is a great opportunity for you to volunteer with the Alumni Office and to show the strength of our alumni network to both the new grads and their supporters!

Convocation Times:

• Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research – September 23, 7 p.m.

• Sobey School of Business (undergraduate) – September 24, 10 a.m.

• Faculty of Arts/ Faculty of Science (undergraduate) – September 24, 2 p.m.

Email Alumni@smu.ca to volunteer!

Atlantic School of Theology Students to Benefit from New Online Registration System

Atlantic School of Theology (AST) and Saint Mary’s University (SMU) are partnering on admissions and registration systems that will directly benefit students who register for courses and programs at AST. 

Using digital technology to streamline processes for students, the project team will access SMU’s well-established digital admissions and registration system to create a tailored solution for AST and its students.  

The project is an aspect of the Shared Vision initiative of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (CONSUP).  The mission of the Shared Vision initiative is to make the university sector in Nova Scotia better for students, more competitive, and more efficient through collaborative action on solutions. 

“The project will benefit our students, faculty and administration by replacing the current outmoded information process with a system that is agile, digital and connected,” says Dr. Tim O’Neill, Interim President of Atlantic School of Theology. “Students who wish to register at AST will be able to choose their courses and program of studies from any location through internet access.” 

In the first year, the project will build a new online admission and registration portal for AST. In the second year, the project will expand so that AST students can more easily access financial services. 

Saint Mary’s University President, Robert Summerby-Murray says, “This project has received support from CONSUP, the organization that represents the presidents of the 10 degree-granting institutions in the province, because it aligns with our express desire to encourage the collaboration on service delivery, where it makes sense, among the province’s universities. For our part, Saint Mary’s University is pleased to find another significant project where we can partner with AST.” 

The two-year project is anticipated to cost $250,000.  Funding is being provided by the Government of Nova Scotia’s Department of Advanced Education.  

Since March 2002 Atlantic School of Theology has been affiliated with Saint Mary’s University. Both institutions are committed to achieving the operational efficiencies that will strengthen each institution.

International students connect to the start-up community and industry leaders at Volta Labs

Dozens of international students from post-secondary institutions around the province gathered at Volta Labs last Thursday, August 18, 2022, for an event celebrating their entrepreneurial journey in Nova Scotia. 

The Summer Entrepreneurial Experience Bootcamp was an initiative by EduNova Cooperative Ltd. and post-secondary institutions across Nova Scotia as part of the Study and Stay Entrepreneurship Program. The event, co-hosted by Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), provided students with a transformational learning experience while exposing them to Volta, the province’s preeminent technology accelerator. The event also offered the opportunity to learn more about the regional and provincial programs and resources available to support entrepreneurs, with workshops led by CEED, EduNova, and Halifax Partnership preceding a panel of international alumni entrepreneurs. 

The Study and Stay Entrepreneurship Program provides access to entrepreneurship and business resources, skills development, networking, and mentorship. 
 
This photo gallery shows President of Saint Mary’s University Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Honourable Minister Brian Wong, and student participants engaging in networking and workshops. 

Art project draws inspiration from campus conversations

If you spot Christopher Webb BA’97 on campus over the next month, make sure you have a chat with him—about anything. Experimenting with a new creative process, the artist and entrepreneur is collecting conversations at Saint Mary’s as inspiration for his next solo exhibition.    

He has spoken with 40+ people so far, from student athletes to President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, and researchers in academic disciplines across the university. His project is supported by a Creation Grant from Arts Nova Scotia. He began in June with weekly visits and is here almost daily through August, working in a makeshift studio space beside the Arts Commons. 

“It’s really been enjoyable to have conversations with people who are so passionate about what they’re doing across many different disciplines,” says Webb. “It’s meant to be a break in the day, a chance to discuss non-linear concepts but one of the real connectors has been that everyone in their work is trying to discover a truth of some kind. That’s something that I’m also trying to discover as a human being. I’m here to voice my truth and investigate my purpose.”  

Webb, who has long been an acclaimed landscape painter, is also co-owner/creator of PAVIA Gallery - Espresso Bar & Café. His art practice took a multidisciplinary turn last summer when he was the Artist-in-Residence with the Annapolis Royal Community Arts Council, perhaps also inspired by a nearly two-year stint as host of The Visual Arts Abstract features for Global Halifax. Visual art is still a huge part of his work but writing and sound are now core elements as well.  

“The work is really coming together,” says Webb. Ideas and concepts from the dialogues funnel into his own prose, which then informs his sketches and paintings. He’s also planning collaborative sound and performance aspects as he did with his spring exhibition “And You” at Gallery 78 Fine Art in Fredericton, which had contributions from musicians and spoken word artist Clyde A. Wray.  

Thematically, his work deals with spirituality, morality and mortality. While “And You” explored topics of life and love, here at Saint Mary’s he seems to be zeroing in on topics relating to values and truth. All conversations are confidential, so he’s not quoting people directly in his work; he wants everyone to feel comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions.  

He’s aiming to wrap up the writing portion of his project later this month, with 14 to 16 paintings and other elements coming together by mid-autumn for a fall exhibition at a downtown gallery.  

Webb invites faculty, staff and students to connect with him at info@cwebb.ca to set up a time and place to talk. He also encourages faculty members to consider bringing him into their classrooms this fall for discussions on the impact of creativity in all disciplines.    

Follow his art project updates on Instagram at @thechristopherwebb.  

— Marla Cranston, Faculty of Arts

Equity, diversity and inclusion resources for SMU faculty and staff

The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion is a Canadian organization that focuses on diversity and inclusion, and human rights and equity, specifically in Canada's workplaces and schools. Saint Mary's University is an employer partner with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) which provides us with several benefits that will support us on our diversity and inclusion journey.

The following benefits are available to all faculty and staff:

• Monthly newsletter, Diversity Ink.
  CCDI’s monthly newsletter provides information about CCDI events and research, and other pertinent news from the Canadian diversity and inclusion realm. Subscribe here. You can view past editions of their Diversity Ink newsletter here.

• CCDI Knowledge Repository
  As part of the “Members Only” portal on their website, CCDI has an e-library with over 1,000 documents containing Canadian-specific and international diversity and inclusion research, reports, toolkits and news, which are indexed and searchable by multiple parameters (e.g. by keyword, by topic, etc.). This e-library is an evergreen resource and new content is continually being added. If you would like access to the Knowledge Repository, you can self-register here.

• Monthly webinars
  CCDI offers educational webinars which are free for all of our employees. Registration is currently open for the 2021 calendar year. Click here to see a list of topics and dates. Previously recorded webinars can be accessed via the Knowledge Repository.

• In-person events
  CCDI hosts best-practice forums and Community of Practice events in 18 cities across Canada twice per year. Check this page regularly to see when new dates have been added.

  Questions? Please contact Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, AVP Diversity Excellence or Deborah Brothers-Scott, Director Diversity Inclusion and Wellness, People and Culture.

Upcoming webinars

Register now for the third and fourth webinars in our LGBTQ2+ Inclusion in the Workplace series.
These events are open to all and offered at no charge. Pre-registration is required.

Reconciling Identity: A discussion about Two-Spirit people within the LGBTQ2+ communities
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 1 p.m. Eastern

All the T: A discussion on gender within the LGBTQ2+ communities
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Unearthing the story of Italy's Indigenous communities

Photo credit: Roberto Lalinga

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Students at Saint Mary’s University are helping to shed new light on previously overlooked perspectives from the ancient past, thanks to new research partnerships that have taken root in Italy.

The Metaponto Archaeology Project field school was “a life-changing experience” for students who took part in it this spring, says Dr. Sveva Savelli, assistant professor in Ancient Studies and Intercultural Studies. She taught the new field course in May at the Incoronata “greca” excavation site near the town of Pisticci (Matera), along with Dr. Spencer Pope of McMaster University, under the auspices of the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio della Basilicata.

Dr. Sveva Savelli
Photo: Simone Foresta

Fourth-year philosophy major Ken Finlay agrees. “I would highly encourage anybody with even the slightest interest in archaeology to sign up for the field school. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience and is sure to deepen your interest in classics even further,” says Finlay, who aims to pursue a law degree after graduating with his Bachelor of Arts.

Located in the “instep of the boot” on the map of southern Italy, the site was home to thriving Indigenous communities (the Oenotrians) between the 9th and 7th centuries BCE when Greek settlers began arriving. Past archaeology efforts in the region, now known as Basilicata, have focused mainly on the Greek settler histories. This research goes farther back, investigating the colonial dynamics during a period when the Oenotrians and Greeks first interacted in the area, prior to the founding of the Greek colony of Metaponto.

“It’s very interesting because it seemed to be a very peaceful relationship, mostly traders and potters who arrived. Incoronata “greca” was a place where the relationship was fruitful for both communities,” says Savelli, co-director of the research project along with Pope.

The research has been underway for a number of years but reached a key milestone this spring with the discovery of a structure believed to be an Oenotrian hut, plus a motherlode of artifacts, she says.

“It has been an amazing season. We were not expecting quite so many archaeological finds. Our students were incredibly lucky in this sense. We basically pulled out thousands of shards of pottery!”

Available again next spring, the field course builds on Saint Mary’s existing strengths in archaeology research and education. Another offering in Italy through the ancient studies program is Dr. Myles McCallum’s annual field course at the Villa of Titus Archaeology Research Project near Castel Sant’Angelo, which resumed in May and June after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. In both field courses, students learn many aspects of what it means to be an archaeologist, from excavation skills to lab tasks such as sorting and cataloguing artifacts—and most importantly, teamwork.

“Students were not aware of the collegial aspect of this profession,” says Savelli. “So working together as a team, especially coming out of this period of COVID isolation, really created an excitement in the group.” Visiting scholars at the field school shared expertise in everything from topography to how to use a microscope in archaeometry. Finlay said another big highlight for students was their own research presentations—each student researched a nearby temple or monument, then gave their presentations at those actual sites.

“It was a cultural experience for them,” says Savelli, who is from Rome and worked at Queen’s University before joining Saint Mary’s in July 2020. There was a lot of interest from the local community as well. Media outlets reported on a visit from Pisticci Mayor Domenico Albano, who also held a special dinner for the students and researchers.

“There is a Canadian connection already,” says Savelli. “In the town it’s like a parade, everybody stops us. Many people have a cousin or brother who moved to Canada.”

Partnership with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Museum Director Paolo Giulierini

The Piana Campana: A Land Without Borders
Photo credit: Livia Pacera MANN/Electa

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Here on campus this fall, students have another unique opportunity for hands-on research experience in Savelli’s new course, ANCS/ICST 3506: Cultural Property Protection in a Global World. Through a partnership between Saint Mary’s and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN), led by Museum Director Paolo Giulierini, the class will collaborate with the museum on a project involving the “Spinelli Archaeological Collection” led by Senior Curator Dr. Emanuela Santaniello.

“Students will be involved in the tracking of archaeological finds from the necropolis of Suessula, in the interland of Naples, that are now dispersed in museums all over Europe and North America,” says Savelli.

Mapping these objects will help the museum lay the groundwork for future exhibitions, narrating the story of how cultural heritage has scattered to different parts of the world. With some creativity, other museums housing artifacts could take part in presenting this international picture, even in a digital format.

“I hope the class becomes a workshop and a think tank on cultural property and the international issues related to its restitution and repatriation,” says Savelli.

She worked closely with the museum last year as a member of its research team behind an exhibition, “The Piana Campana. A Land without Borders.” Still ongoing, the exhibition focuses on Iron Age interactions among Greek settlers, Etruscans and Indigenous communities in the Piana Campana region north of Naples.

It’s all part of a bigger project that will enable more field schools, student exchanges and internships in the future. The opportunities for students stem from a memorandum of agreement between the museum and Saint Mary’s, signed in 2020 to foster scientific and academic cooperation.

“Through this partnership, ancient studies in Italy take a prime position in our international academic offerings,” says Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to collaborate with one of the most important archaeological museums in the world, whose holdings include the Farnese and Pompeian Collections and thousands of other artifacts from Etruscan, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations.”

Dr. Giulierini adds: “The MANN is pleased to offer educational opportunities for Canadian students and faculty, and to provide first-hand knowledge of ancient material culture.”

The partnership complements the field projects at Villa di Tito and Incoronata “greca”, says Savelli, enhancing opportunities for students to learn about the conservation and management of archaeological collections. As a researcher, the most intriguing aspect for her is taking a fresh look at colonial times in the ancient world, and seeing what it can teach us about the present.

“This is really about how each country defines its own identity through its past. And it’s not just about the past—for us in Canada, it’s also about our reality.”

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Learn more about the Ancient Studies program and field schools available through the Faculty of Arts. Follow the Metaponto Archaeology Project on Instagram at @metaponto_arch_proj and the Villa of Titus Archaeology Project on Facebook at @villaditito.

Related stories:

• SMU archaeologist brings history into focus with LiDAR and 3D tech

• Saint Mary’s University Anthropologist Investigates Former Shubenacadie Residential School Site

• Honouring the Landscape of Grand Pré: Students reflect on research connections

The Sobey School of Business releases its third annual Research Bulletin

The Sobey School of Business has released its third annual Research Bulletin, which highlights the fascinating and diverse business research done by Sobey faculty, graduate students and research centres throughout the 2021 academic year.

“Our researchers impress with their ability to be focussed, community-oriented and representative of our five-year strategic plan, Elevating Impact, which embodies the vision and aspirations of the Sobey School of Business,” said Dr. Harjeet S. Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “The research undertaken at the Sobey School of Business from January to December 2021 demonstrates the Sobey School’s leadership in making an impact with purpose.”

Even through the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sobey researchers made strides.

“The global health crisis has accelerated changes in how we work and do business…our researchers have continued to actively train highly qualified personnel, create and disseminate knowledge, and engage with our partners in the community. The work they do matters to so many!” said Dr. Catherine Loughlin, Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Mobilization.

Download the full 2021 Sobey School of Business Research Bulletin publication now.