Recent grad making a splash in the world of entrepreneurship

Combining passion and problem solving is the key to successful entrepreneurship, a mentality that Marlee Armour MTEI’22 embodies daily through her work. Having spent the last decade as a swim instructor, Marlee founded Summer Swim Academy in 2015, providing private backyard swim lessons and on-demand lifeguarding services across Southern Ontario. Through this endeavour, she and her team of instructors noticed a glaring issue with children’s personal flotation devices (PFDs).

“We swim with our arms, but PFDs don’t allow for this horizontal movement,” says Armour. “Typical PFDs train kids to swim vertically in what we call the drowning position. Three years ago, I started cutting the PFDs and turning them around, making it easier for the kids to learn to swim safely and properly from the beginning.” 

Armour entered Saint Mary’s Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) program as a passionate entrepreneur. Her instructors gave her the knowledge and confidence to solve this problem and make the SwimTrainer a reality. Armour also benefited from the entrepreneurial expertise of the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), which she says played an integral role in helping her learn to pitch her product, supported her with networking opportunities and broadened her horizons through events.

With over five years of entrepreneurial experience under her belt, Armour has now developed a prototype for SwimTrainer and looks forward to applying her knowledge from Saint Mary's to her business.

Did you know? Each year, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre organizes a national entrepreneurship competition for post-secondary students across Canada. Modelled after the NCAA basketball competition, March Madness sees 64 participants compete to win $10,000 toward their business. With SwimTrainer, Marlee Armour MTEI’22 tied for third place in the 2022 competition.

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• Double-silver at VCIC: Students’ success highlights a unique entrepreneurial environment

Telling unheard stories: unlocking museum collections

The soul of a community is embodied by culture and the telling of stories, but what happens when the stories told are not aligned with lived experiences? Partnering with the Association of Nova Scotia Museums and communities across Nova Scotia, Dr. Kirrily Freeman is working to help museums unlock their collections and ensure that history is told accurately. Her students gain experience ensuring that the history and heritage of African Nova Scotian, Acadian, Gaelic and Mi’kmaq communities are better represented in Nova Scotian museums.  

“Community engagement is integral to the whole process,” says Dr. Freeman. “Communities are telling us what is needed, what is missing and what needs to be done to move forward. This knowledge will influence not just how we proceed but hopefully will shape the future of museum work in the province.” 

Maggie MacIntyre, Executive Director of the Association of Nova Scotia Museums, is excited about the short and long-term benefits of this partnership with Saint Mary's.

“Working with students is giving us the capacity to move community-centered work forward,” she says. “In the long run, we see it playing a big role in creating the next generation of museum professionals.”   

Dr. Freeman says their priority is to ensure marginalized groups have access to their communities’ histories and material culture. “We all benefit from having a more inclusive, more nuanced, more comprehensive representation of the past.”

Did you know? Dr. Kirrily Freeman is piloting two new courses, ‘Museum Fundamentals: Unlocking Community Collections’ and ‘Heritage Field Placement’, as part of a newly proposed Public Humanities and Heritage major in the Faculty of Arts.  

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• In her own words: An inspiring introduction to the Lynn Jones Collection

• Faculty of Arts appoints Dr. Kirrily Freeman as Director of Outreach and Experiential Learning

• What’s in a name? For the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek Mi’kmaw Place Names Project, a Lot

50 years of research, education and outreach

A quick 22-storey elevator ride is all it takes to be transported from the heart of a bustling campus into another galaxy at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory. Currently celebrating 50 years in operation, the observatory recently welcomed a new management team in Dr. Vincent Hénault-Brunet and Tiffany Fields BSc’17 MSc’19. Operating one of two professional-grade telescopes in Atlantic Canada, this duo is steadfast in fulfilling their mission to provide astronomy and astrophysics education, research and outreach to communities locally and worldwide. 

“We are incredibly lucky to have the Burke-Gaffney Observatory here on campus,” says Fields. “It allows students to participate in science outreach and it also allows our community to experience the universe here at Saint Mary’s.”  

Fields has always felt the gravitational pull of the observatory. During her time as a student at Saint Mary’s, she worked at the observatory before becoming its technician. Similar to her own experience, she wants to give students the opportunity to learn how to use the state-of-the-art observational astronomy equipment with the hopes of preparing them for careers in astronomy and data science. Dr. Hénault-Brunet agrees.

"For generations, Nova Scotians have been enlightened by the universe after a visit to the Burke-Gaffney Observatory," he says. "We also know students come to study astronomy and astrophysics at Saint Mary's because of our observatory." 

Sitting atop the Loyola building for half a century, the Burke-Gaffney Observatory has celebrated many milestones and continues to look to the future. The observatory is the location where the first supernova was discovered and continues to sit high in the sky as a beacon of generosity and the pursuit of a better understanding of our universe. 

Did you know? The Burke-Gaffney Observatory has allowed many to explore the universe thanks to the generosity of our supporters, including Dr. Ralph Medjuck LLD’13, whose philanthropic gift in 2014 helped upgrade the telescope.

Related stories:

• Researchers identify what could be clusters that contain the first and oldest stars in the universe

Building more inclusive workspaces

To see the change, you need to be the change. This is the mentality that Dr. Vurain Tabvuma, Sobey Professor in Management, and his PhD student Katelynn Carter-Rogers BA’11 CertHON’12 MSc’15 bring to their teaching and research practices. Their research, focused on understanding how inclusion within organizations can increase well-being and performance, has been built into the Sobey School of Business Management 1281 curriculum —a foundational course for all Bachelor of Commerce students.  

“My research with Dr. Tabvuma has taught me a lot about current practices in organizations and the changes that need to be made to make them inclusive," says Carter-Rogers. "It’s one thing to be included, it’s another thing to feel like you truly belong.”

This addition to the course curriculum reinforces the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in the minds of tomorrow’s business leaders. This is a big step forward in fostering more inclusive workplaces.  

“It’s important that organizations are able and ready to support people who come from very different perspectives, and include people who understand the world in very different ways,” says Dr. Tabvuma.

Did you know? The Sobey School of Business is a proud signatory of the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative. The school is also one of just two in Canada to be selected as a PRME Champion (2020-23), a leadership group committed to advancing corporate social responsibility in education and research.

Related stories:

• Saint Mary's Hosts: Black Business Initiatives - 25 Years & Beyond

• Saint Mary’s University Signs Charter on Black Inclusion and Fighting Anti-Black Racism

• School of Business Impact Speaker Series launches with ‘Elevating Indigenous Businesses’ event

Sobey School of Business takes its place among top business schools in the world with EQUIS accreditation

The Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University joins the top business schools in the world with EQUIS accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global. Less than two percent of business schools worldwide hold this prestigious accreditation. The Sobey School of Business is also AACSB accredited, and only one percent of business schools worldwide are both AACSB and EQUIS accredited. 

The EQUIS accreditation benchmarks the Sobey School against international standards in terms of governance, programs, students, faculty, research, internationalization, ethics, responsibility, and sustainability, as well as its engagement with the world of practice. 

Dr. Harjeet Bhabra

“We are very excited and extremely proud to be a part of the EQUIS community. Achieving EQUIS accreditation endorses our school’s vision which is to lead in discovery and learning for global impact,” says Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “EQUIS will provide us with the mechanism for international benchmarking with the best, grow our international partnerships, and keep us focused on achieving the highest quality in everything we do.” 

The EQUIS peer review team, consisting of representatives from universities in Spain, Belgium and Canada plus a corporate reviewer from IBM, highlighted the Sobey School’s action on ethics, responsibility, and sustainability initiatives as a reference that can serve others concerned with educating responsible leaders. The business school was commended for its innovation in program development and its responsiveness to the region’s business, societal and economic development needs. 

The Sobey School of Business is named after Frank H. Sobey, founder of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. The Sobey School of Business offers a well-respected Bachelor of Commerce program, with a wide range of specialties, including accounting, computing and information systems, entrepreneurship, finance and human resource management and industrial relations. The most comprehensive business school in Atlantic Canada it also provides a range of graduate-level programs including a Master of Business Administration, an Executive Master of Business Administration, a Master of Finance, a Master of Applied Economics, a Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a Master of Management in Cooperatives and Credit Unions and a well-respected Ph.D. program.  

In Fall of 2022, the Sobey School introduced two new graduate programs, the Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) and the Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA), both designed to give students the skills to succeed in the modern business world. The school is also home to the internationally renowned David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services and four other research centres of excellence.  

The EQUIS accreditation is valid for a three-year period. EQUIS is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration. EQUIS is managed and run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global and its fundamental objective, linked to the mission of the EFMD Global, is to raise the standard of management education worldwide. 

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Nerve, Balance, Community and Boldness: A reflection on Women in Retail: Impacting Our Communities With Purpose

On October 13, 2022, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, attendees of the Sobey School of Business’s fourth annual Women in Business event, Women in Retail: Impacting Our Communities With Purpose, gathered in person to highlight women in retail, their journeys and the impact they have on their communities.

Women in Retail included three panels of women experts in retail, a Keynote address by Founder & CEO of The 7 Virtues Barb Stegemann, a discussion with journalist and author Janice Landry, and The Pop-Up-Shop & Networking Hour, a mini-event created for entrepreneurs to promote their products, business or services to attendees. A post-event social at The Cable Wharf Kitchen & Patio followed.

Women in Retail: Impacting Our Communities With Purpose

The emcees of the event, Amber Grosse, Entrepreneurship Engagement Manager with the Black Business Initiative, and Crystal Garrett, Broadcast Journalist and CEO of Crystal Joy Garrett Media, conducted the day with effortless skill. Both women leveraged their humour, lived experiences and charisma to facilitate discussions both amongst speakers and attendees. We would like to formally thank both Amber and Crystal for their phenomenal work!

Although the panelists, Stegemann and Landry all come from diverse personal backgrounds and business focusses within the retail world, four common themes emerged from their experiences: nerve, balance, community and boldness. These themes united the not only the women on stage, but throughout the room. The feeling of support and togetherness was palpable, with attendees and presenters sharing experiences, advice and stories with one another throughout the day. By the end of the event, a community of women in retail and their allies had formed in the Loyola Conference Hall.

Attendees of Women in Retail lining up to ask questions to presenters.

We would like to thank all of our speakers, attendees and our sponsors (with special thank you to our changemaker sponsor, Sunlife Financial) for making Women in Retail: Impacting Our Communities With Purpose a resounding success. Without your dedication, this event would not have been as impactful as it was! Additionally, we wish to thank Ambassatours CEO Dennis Campbell for use of The Cable Wharf Kitchen & Patio as a post-event space to debrief and network.

As for what comes next, the Women in Business Steering Committee is excited to announce that next year’s event plans to build upon the impact of Women in Retail. The Committee is highly engaged in working with community members, and will be moving towards to establish a fund to uplift and support women in business.

We cannot wait to see what’s next for Women in Business!

If you would like to see photos from Women in Retail: Impacting Our Communities With Purpose, they have been posted on the Sobey School of Business’s Facebook Page.

President Robert Summerby-Murray awarded Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal

Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc and Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to share the news that President, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for ‘exceptional qualities and outstanding service to our Province in the field of Education.’    

The award was presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC, at a ceremony held at Government House on October 18, 2022. The commemorative medal is presented in honour of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s succession to the throne and is awarded to residents of Nova Scotia who have made significant contributions to Canada, Nova Scotia, their community, or to their fellow citizens.  

Throughout his decades-long career and since joining Saint Mary’s University as President in 2015, Dr. Summerby-Murray has been a noted champion of higher education in Canada and abroad. He is active on the boards of Universities Canada, the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, Atlantic University Sports, and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Presidents’ Cohort Group on ‘Universities and Social Infrastructure’. Recently, he has focused on initiatives to support veteran-friendly campuses and to prevent racism on campus through participation in national initiatives such as the BlackNorth Initiative education committee and the Scarborough National Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Inclusion. He has just completed a two-year term as board chair of the Canadian Bureau of International Education and remains committed to international education and the global nature of the academy. 

The entire Saint Mary’s University community joins with Dr. Summerby-Murray and his family in celebrating his contributions to education and community and this well-deserved recognition.  

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

Alan R. Abraham Jr. BComm'80, Chair of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors.

Saint Mary's University is pleased to share that Alan R. Abraham Jr. BComm'80 is the new Chair of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors. Abraham is joined by newly elected Vice-Chair, Mark Gosine BA'95.

The Vice-President at ReGroup, Alan Abraham has over 25 years of management and operational experience in the waste and recycling industry and a background in long-distance and public warehousing. He established Green Waste Systems in 1989 and grew it into a full-service company with over 20 trucks operating in Halifax until its acquisition by Royal Environmental Group, where he continues to lead the environmental services division. Abraham is a proud Saint Mary's University alum whose commitment to community service has involved him on various boards and associations.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Saint Mary's University community," says Abraham. "I intend to continue advancing Saint Mary's role as an exemplar in social and community leadership, which has always been core to who we are. Thank you to my fellow Board Members for your votes of confidence in me and my commitment to this great institution. It is an honour."

Mark Gosine BA’95, K.C., ICD.D, Vice-Chair of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors.

Mark Gosine, K.C., ICD.D is an internationally experienced strategic executive and lawyer with a proven track record for facilitating growth through the execution of complex global transactions.  Mark has extensive legal experience both in private practice and in-house, and works closely with boards and management teams on strategic planning, exploring growth opportunities, and risk management.  Mark serves as strategic legal advisor to Mint Road Ltd., IoM Media and Meta Material Inc.  Previously, Mark played a key role in the international growth of WildBrain (formerly DHX Media) where he was Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. 

"I am proud to welcome Alan Abraham as our new Board Chair," says Saint Mary's University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Alan and our new Vice-Chair Mark Gosine have long been supporters of our university and bring extensive experience across a variety of sectors to the table. They have shown incredible passion and dedication to our university and its mission. Thank you both for your commitment to Saint Mary's University."

National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People

October 4 was National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). To commemorate this day, the Patrick Power Library, Indigenous Student Advisor, and Indigenous Student Society President invited Denise Pictou-Maloney to share stories of her lived experience and activism work with MMIWG2S+. At the end of the discussion, participants had the opportunity to hang red dresses in the library windows. The dresses symbolise and honour the women, girls and Two-Spirit people who are missing and murdered. Everyone is welcome to visit the Library to view the installment.

Saint Mary’s Art Gallery hosts a dream collaboration

Amid the busy construction underway at Loyola, activity of the artistic kind has quietly transformed the nearby SMU Art Gallery. 

The gallery entrance gives a colourful preview to the newest exhibit: the larger-than-life abstract work of JIM, a collaboration of local artists Jack Bishop, Ivan Murphy, and Mitchell Wiebe.  

Pam Correll, Assistant Curator of the Art Gallery, has been planning this exhibit for over a year. Typically, SMU’s Art Gallery hosts touring shows but for this exhibit, the artists set up shop in the gallery and, since July, have been working to create the current exhibition of massive canvases and site-specific artwork.  

“Painting is usually a solitary practice,” says Jack Bishop. “So, working collaboratively has been fun to explore different possibilities and try things that break out of our usual individual studio processes.” 

Visitors will see individual work from each artist as well as collaborative paintings that all three have touched. 

The idea of JIM started as a band name. The three artists– all musically inclined– share studio space and during painting breaks, joked about forming an art rock band. Eventually, JIM morphed into a physical expression of acrylic, oil, spray paint, foam, and tape as all three artists collaborated and started working together.  

“This collaboration is a dream come true,” says Correll. “It is wonderful to watch these paintings come to life. Three talented, well-established artists working together and creating a journey of collaboration. You do not see this often.” 

Correll hopes that this exhibit will bring new people to the gallery and open the art world to new eyes.  

“A good abstract painting takes you to different places at different times,” says Corell. “Each time you come back to it and approach it from another angle or in varying light, you can always see something new.” 

The exhibit opened on October 1 and runs until December 4.  

Gallery hours 
Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 
 
Follow @smugallery to stay updated on the current and future exhibits.

Saint Mary’s supports federal announcement of international students helping to address Canada’s labour shortage

Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

“International students contribute significantly to Canadian cultural diversity, society and economy,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “These students have come to Canada for the exceptional quality of our post-secondary institutions, and they contribute enormously to research, teaching excellence and the role of the academy in civil society. This announcement provides the opportunity for those students to round out their academic experience.”

“By allowing international students greater flexibility for employment while they pursue their studies, students will gain even more valuable work experience in Canada and build deeper community connections,” says President Summerby-Murray. “I want to thank the Government of Canada for their foresight to finding solutions that support the growth of post-secondary students and the Canadian economy.”

In addition to his roles as President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Summerby-Murray is also a member of the board of EduNova.

Wicked Problems Lab Research Awards for Students: Apply by Nov 11

The Wicked Problems Lab is offering funding and assistance for Saint Mary’s students in addressing issues at home and around the world.  

Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to pitch their ideas to tackle wicked problems. Proposals will be evaluated on the aptness of the issue and the feasibility of the plan to address it. 

Four awards are available:

• 2 x $2500 for undergraduate students

• 2 x $2500 for graduate students

All applicants are invited to use the Wicked Problems Lab’s resources, including workstations, software and research analyst throughout the year. 

The LeaderVision Atlantic Wicked Problems Awards are generously funded by SMU alumnus Douglas Coll.

Students must register their intention to apply by November 11 using the following link:   

https://forms.office.com/r/5iZvJPqQGg