Helping the North Atlantic Right Whale rebound

At nearly 70 tonnes, the subjects of Dr. Timothy Frasier's research are massive examples of how quickly a species can progress to the brink of extinction. North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered large whales globally, with fewer than 400 in existence. While protection initiatives are in place, Dr. Frasier is concerned with the whale's low reproduction rate.   

Using genomic data, Dr. Frasier works to better understand what genetic factors limit the species' recovery. Early hypotheses suggest that low genetic variation and inbreeding could be possible factors. By determining the factors that limit reproductive success, conservation efforts can be more effective and efficient in saving the species from extinction.

Photo credit: New England Aquarium IUCN/PA

"By working with colleagues and governments in Canada and the United States, we can move fairly quickly from research results to impacts on policy and procedures," says Dr. Timothy Frasier of the Faculty of Science. "Right whales are in a very precarious situation, and we need to identify how conservation actions can be changed to improve the chances for the species to recover." 

With $6 million in new funding, Dr. Frasier and his colleagues from Genome Atlantic and the New England Aquarium can continue their research into what factors limit the reproductive success of right whales. This work will help focus conservation efforts to save these beautiful mammals.

Did you know? Each year, our Faculty of Science and the Canadian Whale Institute host a 10-day Marine Mammal Summer Camp, where teens conduct hands-on marine research in the laboratory and off the coast of New Brunswick (pictured above). 

Related stories:

• Canada-U.S. scientists to hunt for genetic clues to help struggling North Atlantic right whales rebound

Creating opportunities for Indigenous girls in sport

Creating safe and welcoming places on campus and through sport is at the forefront of everything Ryan Francis stands for. In 2019, he co-founded the Indigenous Girls Hockey Program, which operates in Eskasoni, Membertou and Truro, NS (close to Millbrook First Nation and Sipkne’katik First Nation), and has seen nearly 200 school-age girls participate. He believes that representation and connection are vital for a positive experience in hockey and that helping Indigenous girls to experience the game with their peers is important.

Huskies hockey player Erin Denny (of Eskasoni First Nation) has been involved since the beginning, providing the girls with insight into her lived experience and encouraging them to feel seen, heard and understood in an environment that is comfortable and familiar.

“As a SMU hockey player, it’s great to be able to connect with the broader community,” says Denny. “Through this program, I can contribute to the development of young athletes and show these girls there is a place for Indigenous youth in sport at every level.”   

Did you know? Ryan Francis, the university’s first Indigenous Visiting Fellow, works closely with our Centre for the Study of Sport and Health on initiatives that increase the knowledge and awareness of Indigenous participation in sport, such as the Red Tape Game and Indigenous Sport Week.

Related links:

• Saint Mary’s University is in Mi’kma’ki

• Hockey for everyone: Huskies host Canadian Blind Hockey for fun practice

• Ryan Francis Returns for Two-Year Indigenous Research Fellowship at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s contribution to the James Webb Telescope

“The Sparkler” galaxy—seen here in JWST’s first deep image—was found by Saint Mary’s astronomers and colleagues and hosts some of the universe’s first stars. Credit: NASA

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful space telescope ever built, has a Saint Mary’s connection. Dr. Marcin Sawicki, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy, is part of the team that developed a key part of the telescope, namely the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS), which records data at near-infrared wavelengths invisible to the human eye. 

“Stars, galaxies and objects all have an infrared pattern, similar to a barcode” says Dr. Sawicki. “With the NIRISS, we can read the object’s bar code and figure out all sorts of properties like how old it is, how far away it is and whether it’s a galaxy or other space object.” 

Dr. Sawicki and his students have unprecedented access to the Webb telescope. “Our postdocs and students will be using JWST to observe the birth of the first galaxies soon after the Big Bang.” he says. “The potential for extremely impactful science is enormous. We’re eager to use Webb for world-leading research here in Nova Scotia.”

Did you know? “The Sparkler” galaxy—seen in JWST’s first deep image—was found by Saint Mary’s astronomers and colleagues and hosts some of the universe’s first stars. 

Related stories:

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

• SMU astronomers ready to probe the Universe using most powerful space telescope ever built

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.

Related stories:

• Breaking down barriers for women

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

• 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.  

Related stories:

• 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.