Entrepreneurship, Student Support
Emily LeBlanc
Access Ability: inclusive growth for ...
Faculty of Arts, Research, Alumni
Emily LeBlanc
Halifax Memory Maps research offers a new look ...
Sobey School of Business, Research, Partnerships
Emily LeBlanc
Health Data Analytics Symposium showcases ...
Entrepreneurship, Student Success, Media Release
Emily LeBlanc
Saint Mary's student team wins $10,000 in ...
Emily LeBlanc
Saint Mary’s University unveils ambitious new ...

More than $37,000 raised for Food Room on Giving Tuesday

We are beyond thankful to all those who helped us raise over $37,000 to help support food security for hundreds of students!

Sadly, food security is a challenge faced by too many in our community, including many students. Last year alumni, faculty, staff and friends helped us raise more than $30,000 allowing the Community Food Room to host almost 3,000 student visits. This year, we are proud to be able to support even more students!

Donations made on Giving Tuesday—which were matched by the J & W Murphy Foundation—will help provide access to nutritious food and other essentials, allowing students to better focus on their studies while here at Saint Mary’s.

We are truly grateful for the support of our alumni, faculty, staff, friends and community surrounding Saint Mary’s students with care and support as they finish their fall semester.

Learn more about the SMU Community Food Room: hear from Coordinators Yeshani and Simba.

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Free access to the Homburg Centre for "Get Fit Week"!

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SMUfit's holiday gift to faculty and staff is our "Get Fit" week, December 11-17, 2023!

All faculty and staff will receive free access to the Homburg Centre, including: 

  • The weight and cardio rooms 

  • Drop In fitness classes 

  • Pilates Classes 

  • Steam and Sauna 

  • Community Room booking 

  • Drop-in sports 

As a bonus, any faculty/staff who decide to purchase a membership during “Get Fit” week will receive an extra 15% discount on their already discounted membership. We are looking forward to seeing you in December!

Meet your mental health Peer Supporters: Claudia and Ama

Did you know that Saint Mary’s offers a Peer Support Program for students?

Hired and trained annually by the Counselling Centre, Peer Supporters are upper-year Saint Mary’s students who offer mental health support to fellow students. They have lived experience with mental health and understand the challenges of being a student. The Peer Support Program is confidential and open to all students.

All students are welcome to drop by during their office hours, no appointment needed! You can stop in to talk about university adjustment, managing stress, relationship issues, mental health, coping strategies, and more.


Ama Saah, Peer Supporter

Ama Adua Saah (she/her) is a 4th-year student pursuing double majors in Accounting and Economics. Hailing from Ghana, she is deeply passionate about mental health because of its significance and impact on quality of life.

Claudia Tattrie-Leck, Peer Supporter

Meet Claudia (she/her), a caring peer supporter in her fourth university year. Originally from Porters Lake, she's studying psychology. She takes comfort in her artistic pursuits, which include reading, drawing, and keeping an art journal.


Peer Support Drop-in Schedule Fall 2023

Continuing until December 16

Tuesdays

10 a.m. – noon in The Counselling Centre SC406 | Hosted by Claudia

2:30-4:30 p.m. in Loyola Residence LR105 | Hosted by Ama

Wednesdays

2-4 p.m. in the Library Study Room 3 | Hosted by Ama

Thursdays

1-3 p.m. in Sobey Building SB159 | Hosted by Claudia

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Accessibility Week at Saint Mary’s 

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Digital image shows students working at computers with text: Saint Mary's University Accessibility Week, November 27 to December 1, 2023

Please join the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility as we celebrate Accessibility Week at Saint Mary's from November 27-December 1, leading up to the United Nations’ International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3. 

During the week, the Fred Smithers Centre will offer virtual and in-person events for students, faculty and staff, including events highlighting stress management, mental health and wellness, workshops for faculty on creating accessible coursework, guest speakers, a faculty open house and tour of the Fred Smithers Centre, a blind hockey exhibition game and a student trivia night. Read below for a full list of events.

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

Accessibility Week Events  

Patrick Power Library Book Display
November 27 – December 11, 2023  

A collection of literature relating to disability and accessibility, featuring staff picks from the Fred Smithers Centre team. See library hours here.

Vicky is a white woman with short brown hair wearing a white sweater. The event title and information is included as text on the image.

Keynote Speaker: Vicky Levack

Monday, November 27  
Noon – 1:30 p.m. | CLARI, 3rd floor Atrium  

Vicky Levack is a disability advocate and educator who lives in Halifax N.S. Her story and her work have been featured in many news and media reports including CBC and Global News and the Halifax Examiner.  She is a former SMU student and hosts the “Disability Debunked” podcast.  Vicky is known for her candid and genuine take on all things disability.   

An image with event information, included in text

More Accessible Word and PowerPoint Document Workshop

Monday, November 27  
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Sobey Building (SB) Room 159  

The Studio for Teaching and Learning provides an opportunity to learn how to create more accessible Word and PowerPoint documents. During the workshop participants will have an opportunity to work on their own document(s) and ask questions.  

  

Accessibility Week Trivia Night  

Monday, November 27  
6:00 p.m. | The Gorsebrook Lounge, Student Centre main level  

Join Accessibility Wellness ambassador, Zoe, for a night of neuro-spicy trivia covering topics on accessibility, diversity and social justice. This will be an accessible and welcoming event that highlights important issues and fosters great discussions through a fun, trivia format with chances to win prizes.  

Tune-sy Tuesday Accessibility Week Edition  

Tuesday, November 28  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Lobby Couches, O’Donnell Hennessey Student Centre  

Bring an instrument or borrow one of ours and come jam out for a midday musical mood boost and explore the roles that music can play in accessibility and wellness! Students, staff, faculty and alumni are welcome.   

A digital image of a person petting a dog. Event title and information included as text on image.

Therapy Dog Drop-in  

Wednesday, November 29  
11:30 – 1 p.m. | The Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Get ready for a paw-sitively amazing event! Join Meri, the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog for a barking good time. Meri will be here to show us the importance of self-care and emotional support during a stressful time! Don’t miss out on this furry-tale event!  

A digital image of people sitting together working on laptops with event information overlaid

Accessibility Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Wednesday, November 29  
Noon – 1 p.m. | Online via zoom (registration required)  

Hosted by the Fred Smithers Centre, the Studio for Teaching and Learning and the Software and Application Support teams, this Q&A event will be an opportunity to discuss and explore accessibility within the scope of institutional learning and working. Participants will learn about resources, supports, software and tools, and will have an opportunity to ask questions.  

Register for the Accessibility Q&A.  

A digital image of a hockey net, sticks and puck. Event title and info included as text on the image.

 Blind Hockey Exhibition

Wednesday, November 29  
7 p.m. | The Dauphinee Centre (Arena)   

The parasport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes whose level of vision ranges from legally blind – which is approximately 10% vision – to completely blind, using an adapted puck that makes noise and is bigger than a traditional puck. Players will take the ice during the SMU v. UPEI hockey game for an intermission exhibition.  

Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility Open House

Thursday, November 30  
Noon – 2 p.m. | Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (SC 309)  

Faculty and staff are invited to visit the Fred Smithers Centre, meet the team, explore the testing and accommodation spaces, and have a chance to explore some of the assistive technologies. This is an opportunity to learn what services and supports the Fred Smithers Centre offers, ask questions and learn how to incorporate accessibility and accommodation into the classroom and workplace.  

Thursday, November 30  
7 – 8:30 p.m. | Gorsebrook Lounge  

What does masculinity mean to you? Why are men less likely to access mental health supports? How do we show up for ourselves and the men around us? Join us for a panel discussion about men’s mental health! We’ll be discussing what masculinity is and isn’t, the importance of social support, and how we can reduce the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Our panelists include private counsellors, community social workers, other special guests you’ll recognize from campus.  

Digital image with event information incldued in text

Accessible PDF Workshop

Friday, December 1  
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  

Join the Studio for Teaching and Learning to explore creating more accessible PDFs using various software. Learn how PDFs are processed for various neuro-diverse experiences, explore accessibility check tools and get templates to build off accessible-ready documents. This hands-on workshop will allow participants to develop or work on their own documents, get help and ask questions.  

A digital image of hands typing on a laptop. Event title and information included in text.

Keynote Speaker: Jay Dolmage on Academic Ableism

Friday, December 1  
Noon | Online  

Faculty and staff are invited to tune in with Jay Dolmage, disability rights author and educator, for a discussion on academic ableism in higher education. Jay will discuss and explore possibilities for building a more accessible classroom and campus and welcomes audience participation in discussions, questions and explorations of disability rights.  

Register for this event.

Celebrating your service: The 29th Annual Employee Recognition Awards

On November 8, close to 150 people gathered in McNally Auditorium to celebrate colleagues marking work anniversaries at Saint Mary’s, and to recognize some being honoured with special awards.

An annual tradition at the university, the event is organized by People and Culture and the President’s Office as a way to say thanks, and to provide an opportunity to pause and connect with colleagues from across campus.

President Summerby-Murray opened the event, noting his appreciation for the dedication of faculty and staff who have chosen to work at Saint Mary’s. “Your dedication to the Saint Mary’s is not something that is taken for granted; it is appreciated and valued, and today, celebrated,” he said. “I truly believe your commitment makes a distinct positive impact on our students and community.”

A total of 79 faculty and staff were recognized for service milestones of 10, 25 and 35 years of service, including part-time faculty and instructors with 15 years of affiliation with the university. (You can view the full list of recipients in the digital program.)

Two remarkable milestones were also applauded at the event: Dr. Colin Dodds (SSB), who has been with Saint Mary’s for 40 years, and Joan Whitney (Arts) who is celebrating 50 years with us!

In addition to service awards, the winners of the President’s Awards for Exemplary Service were also announced. These prestigious awards recognize employees who have demonstrated outstanding service and/or who have made significant contributions to the university community beyond that normally expected for their positions.

President Summerby-Murray offered his congratulations to the winners: Dr. Elissa Asp, English Language and Literature; Sarah MacLean of Enrolment Services; Miyuki Arai, Studio for Teaching and Learning, and to Terri Winchcombe, Library, who received an Honourable Mention.

The event closed with the presentation of the new Santamarian Awards. These awards were established to recognize outstanding contributions of faculty and staff to the workplace culture of Saint Mary’s University, and are intended to reflect the university values found in the Strategic Plan. Mark Moffett, Associate Vice-President, People & Culture, introduced the category and presented the awards.

Cheryl Newman of EIT (nominated not once, but twice!) was the winner of the Individual Award. The Honourable Mention went to Rachelle Boudreau with External Affairs.

The Team Award went to members of the Residence Office team, with Athletics & Recreation receiving the Honourable Mention.

Congratulations to all those who were recognized at the event!

View the event photo gallery and see all recipients in the digital program.

Strategic planning underway for Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health

Discussions underway at the October 23rd Strategic Planning Meeting.

On October 9 and 23, Saint Mary’s University welcomed over 40 students, staff, faculty, and sport industry professionals from across Canada and the US to participate in strategic planning for the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business, and Health.

The new Centre's mandate is to enhance, produce, and deliver socially responsible approaches to sport through the lenses of business and health.

Centre Director Dr. Cheryl MacDonald organized the sessions to inform the development of priorities in support of the mandate, specifically as they relate to marketing, community engagement, research, and the SMU student and athlete experience.

“It was important to have a diverse group of voices in this conversation, not just from the SMU community but also from experts in the field,” said Centre Director Dr. Cheryl MacDonald.

Prominent advocates in the sport community included Jessica Platt, the first openly trans woman in professional hockey, and Mark DeMontis who founded the Canadian Blind Hockey Association.  Additional industry experts included Maritime Women’s Basketball Association Executive Director Crystal Watson and Jennifer Cotterill, a Senior Manager in Event Operations for the Events East Group. Centre Research Associate and author Dr. Brian Kennedy of Pasadena City College in California also attended.

Kieran Block, the first Black national-level parahockey athlete in Canada and a current Master of Counselling student, joined from Edmonton, Alberta. Notable alumni who participated in the in-person meetings included former Huskies Soccer athlete and current CBC Sports commentator Signa Butler and former Huskies Hockey athlete and recent honorary degree recipient Bob Dawson.

Early feedback from the sessions suggests that Centre priorities should include student experiential learning opportunities within the sport business industry, research on athlete wellbeing and mental health, and programming that pays special attention to the experiences of marginalized members of the sporting community.

 “What is going to make this Centre unique is its focus on social responsibility in the context of its connection with Athletics and Recreation as well as the Faculty of Arts and the Sobey School of Business,” said Dr. MacDonald. “I’m grateful to everyone who has generously shared their time and energy with us. The Centre will be better and stronger as a result of this collaborative work that will set a precedent for excellence in its future endeavours.”

New speaker series: Men's Elite-Level Ice Hockey Culture

The Centre is continuing on with previous programming plans including a free monthly online speaker series on men’s elite-level ice hockey culture and a weekly online writing group beginning in January 2024 for students and scholars working on socially responsible approaches to sport in the areas of business and/or health.

The speaker series, which begins Wednesday, November 22nd, will feature academic experts in the field such as Dr. Courtney Szto of Queen’s University, Dr. Taylor McKee of Brock University, and Dr. Janice Forsyth of the University of British Columbia.

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New agreement allows Holland College diploma graduates to complete science degree at Saint Mary’s

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A students wears gloves and uses a test tube in a SMU lab

Saint Mary’s University has recently signed three cooperation agreements with Holland College, enabling graduates from the college’s Bioscience Technology, Wildlife Conservation, and Environmental Applied Science Technology diploma programs to complete a Bachelor of Science degree at the university.

Graduates of the two-year diploma programs can apply to join the Faculty of Science and School of the Environment. The agreement provides Holland College graduates a streamlined pathway into one of Saint Mary’s ten undergraduate science programs taught by top Canadian researchers and award-winning faculty.

“We are delighted to have a new partnership with Holland College, opening doors to more students pursuing their academic goals,” says Dan Seneker, Saint Mary’s AVP Enrolment Management and Registrar. “This agreement will create opportunities for research, internships and exceptional mentorship for students who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science at Saint Mary’s.” 

Doug Currie, Holland College’s Vice President of Corporate Services, said the college is proud to be able to add Saint Mary’s University to the list of partner universities. “Saint Mary’s University has an excellent reputation and a tradition of academic excellence,” he said. “Our graduates are sure to thrive in this top-tier university.” 

Saint Mary's science and engineering students have access to a range of academic student supports to help them succeed. Thanks to our close-knit, community atmosphere, many of our undergraduates participate in their professor's research projects—a valuable experience that can be hard to come by at larger institutions.

“In the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s we are committed to student success, with a mission to create the next generation of creative thinkers through exceptional Science programming with experiential and interdisciplinary learning opportunities,” says Dr. Sam Veres, Interim Dean of Science. “Through these new agreements, we look forward to welcoming more Holland College graduates to Saint Mary’s for the next step in their education and advancement toward their higher education and career goals.”

Visit smu.ca/futurestudents for more information.

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History professor’s book sheds light on U.S. struggle for democracy

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A new book offering historical insight into the early and ongoing challenges of democracy in the United States launched on November 6, as Fall Reading Week began at Saint Mary’s University.

The American Liberty Pole: Popular Politics and the Struggle for Democracy in the Early Republic (University of Virginia Press, 2023) was written by Dr. Shira Lurie of the Department of History. Her Halifax book launch took place at the Glitter Bean Café and online, with a presentation and Q&A.

Lurie’s book launch at Glitter Bean Café in November

“It’s exciting to finally have it out there,” says Dr. Lurie, who began researching the topic nearly a decade ago. “I’ve been workshopping it among historians, so it will be nice to get some thoughts from people who aren’t in the field. You don’t have to be an expert on American history or politics to get something out of it.”

During the American Revolution and into the early republic, “liberty poles”—tall wooden poles bearing political flags and signs—were a central fixture as a form of political expression and public dissent, often leading to conflict and confrontation. Protesters raised liberty poles as a sign of resistance to government rule, while counter-protesters often tore them down.

The first comprehensive study of the liberty pole phenomenon, the book highlights the influence of ordinary citizens as U.S. political culture developed. Dr. Lurie demonstrates how, in raising and destroying liberty poles, Americans put into practice the types of popular participation they envisioned in the new republic. She also makes compelling links between past and present, demonstrating the long history of American debates over protest, monuments, elections and free speech.

“We can trace these questions and controversies all the way back to the beginning of the United States,” says Lurie. “The book also shows the Constitution didn’t come with an instruction manual on how to run a republic, how to become a citizen when you were once a subject, or what it means to vote in an election or protest a government comprised of your own elected representatives.”

Liberty pole arguments could get heated and even violent, as ordinary Americans tried to figure out their role in the new republic – and the republic’s role in the rest of the world.     

“They were walking an uncharted path and I try to help my students understand it wasn’t just about ‘will the American experiment succeed,’” says Lurie. “A lot of Americans wanted theirs to be the first in a series of revolutions that would topple monarchies around the world. They wanted to show that the best form of government is republicanism, self-government.”

It was a new concept and if they succeeded, it could trigger other revolutions beyond the U.S. “but if they failed, they feared that they would doom the world to the shackles of monarchy forever, so the stakes were incredibly high,” Lurie says.

With the advent of the two-party system, liberty pole debates ultimately got channeled into the political parties. At first suspicious of these new institutions, Americans began trusting them and thus political change became more about getting the right people elected.  

“This governing system was designed to put a very small group of people in charge, and to make sure that their power was protected,” says Lurie, adding that the resulting “partisan pendulum locks America into a pretty narrow range of what’s possible to achieve politically.”

She hopes the new book can help to inspire deeper questions about structural and institutional reform.

“The way that American politics functions now is not the result of a kind of divine revelation, it’s the result of choices,” she says. “There’s nothing in that early period that said ‘This is the absolute way to do things,’ which is why there was so much contention then and why it continues today.”

As the U.S. continues to struggle with questions of democracy, protest and free speech, students in Lurie’s history classes are keen to make the connections between past and present.

“Students consume a lot of media so they want to talk about it. They have a natural curiosity and they ask really good questions,” says Lurie, whose fall courses include “Protest in the Early United States” and “American History, American Controversy”.

Further reading:

Reading Roundup for Fall Reading Week

Here’s a sample of other recent publications written or edited by faculty members at Saint Mary’s University. Click the covers below for more information.

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Student researcher has found 100—and counting—invasive crayfish in Three Mile Lake

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Invasive species has potential to move well beyond one Halifax-area lake

Three women wearing black jackets: Linda Campbell, Madison Bond, and Sarah Kingsbury stand outside near water. Linda and Madison are holding crayfish.

Dr. Linda Campbell, graduate student researcher Madison Bond, and DFO Officer Sarah Kingsbury MSc’20 show evidence of crayfish at Three Mile Lake

As a master’s student at Saint Mary’s University, Madison Bond has a unique and exciting opportunity to conduct research that could play a pivotal role in the protection of Nova Scotia’s ecosystem.

For her thesis project, she has been studying the presence of Red Swamp Crayfish, an invasive species found in Three Mile Lake, in Waverley, N.S. This species has the potential to wreak havoc on this lake—with the potential to create damage on a much larger scale.

Red Swamp Crayfish, which look like tiny lobsters, are native to the southern United States. It’s not known yet how they arrived in the Maritimes, but Madison, along with supervising professor Dr. Linda Campbell and partners at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), have been investigating the impact that they have already had on the lake.

Madison Bond speaks to media about her crayfish research

Madison Bond speaks with media about her research

Under a student contract with DFO, Madison caught the first live crayfish at the lake in 2022; approximately 100 have now been captured in traps. Her research work this academic year and next summer is to collect more crayfish and study how their lifecycle and habits differ compared to the crayfish living in their native habitats.

Because Nova Scotia temperatures are colder than their native freshwater habitats, crayfish may burrow deeper into shorelines. The temperature could also affect the number of offspring and the length of their lifecycle. Using frozen crayfish in the lab, Madison will also determine what they eat—leading to more answers about their impact on the local ecosystem.

As an invasive species in a lake, crayfish cause a variety of issues. Crayfish are known for burrowing into the shoreline, which can cause significant damage by changing the shoreline which leads to erosion. Along with the loss of habitat for native species, the aggressive crayfish also compete for food, space and calcium in the water.

Crayfish go through a wandering phase in their lifecycle, which means that they can travel significant distances on land, and potentially move to new bodies of water. The Shubenacadie Canal is within walking distance for a crayfish, meaning this invasive species problem has the potential to become exponentially larger. “Shubie” Canal is a 114-kilometre waterway that stretches from the Halifax Harbour to the Bay of Fundy, and is a well-used and loved recreation destination in Nova Scotia.

Crayfish aren’t the first invasive species in Nova Scotia. Dr. Linda Campbell’s Dynamic Environment and Ecosystem Health Research (DEEHR) lab at Saint Mary’s has also investigated the impact of two other invasive species, Chinese mystery snails and chain pickerel.

Image reads: contact smu.ca/crayfish to report freshwater crayfish sightings in the Maritimes

To protect the province’s native species, habitats and waterways, never introduce a plant, pet or other animal into the wild.

If you find a crayfish, please put it in a bag and note details such as location coordinates, time and date, and contact Madison Bond and the team at Saint Mary’s who will collect it from you. Please do not disturb the traps.

Public Lecture

Dr. Linda Campbell will present a lecture titled “Overlooked no more: non-indigenous, invasive species in Nova Scotia lakes & rivers”

The unanticipated and unplanned appearance of non-indigenous species in freshwater ecosystems is a global issue. In regions lacking biosurveillance and awareness programs, the potential for unwanted species to establish in lakes is very high. Dr. Linda Campbell will present case studies for both fish and invertebrates in Nova Scotia, highlight progress made over the past decade, and discuss ongoing needs in order to limit the impact of unwanted species on Nova Scotia’s freshwater ecosystems.

Date: Monday, December 4, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: In person at Saint Mary’s University – Atrium 101 or via Zoom
Details: https://nsis1862.ca/public-lectures/

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Meet our 2SLGBTQIA+ and Accessibility Wellness Ambassadors 

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Did you know that you can access peer-based mental health support through the Counselling Centre? Along with professional counselling services, they offer drop-in peer supports, bi-weekly art and mental health programming, programs geared toward specific communities and more!

Two of the Counselling Centre's student staff this year 2SLGBTQIA+ Wellness Ambassador Jo (Left), and their Accessibility Wellness Ambassador Zoë (Right). Wellness Ambassadors coordinate wellness-based social programs for members of their communities. Jo hosts bi-weekly Queer Board Games Nights and monthly Trans Student Drop-Ins. Zoë works as a part of the Counselling Centre and Fred Smithers Centre offering social programs to students who are part of the blind, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities. All students are welcome to attend events and learn about their work.

Jo and Zoë both have training to offer one-on-one peer support. Want to set up a chat with one of them? Send them an email and learn more about what they do on the The Counselling Centre's Peer Support Page.

Jo McKenzie (they/them), 2SLGBTQIA+ Wellness Ambassador
2SLGBTQ.Wellness@smu.ca

Zoë MacDonald (she/her), Accessibility Wellness Ambassador
Accessibility.Wellness@smu.ca.

Input wanted for Campus Active Transportation Plan

Do you dream of a more active transportation (walking, cycling, scooting, rolling, etc.) friendly campus?

Your voice matters and we want to hear from you! Saint Mary’s is beginning work on an Active Transportation Plan, an initiative aimed at improving the current active transportation network and shaping a more sustainable campus for the future.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 for an Open House to learn more about the initiative and to provide your input!

Where: Loyola Academic Conference Hall, Room No. LA290
When: There will be two sessions: 9:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:30–3:30pm
Who: All those who use SMU Campus (staff, students, faculty, Homburg)

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Women in Business event highlights networking and sustainability

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On October 17, the Sobey School of Business celebrated women in business, with the Elevating Women in Business: Blazing Trails event. Now in its 5th year, the annual event shines a light on women business leaders and this year, brought a special focus on how to create a more sustainable world.

Keynote speaker Chantal Brine BA’09, who is the CEO and Founder of EnPoint, spoke to a crowd of more than 80 attendees about the importance of mentorship and strategic networking techniques. Another highlight was a panel discussion with Dr. Denise Daley, Executive Director of the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank; Sara Shabnam BComm’15, Founder & CEO of Better Day Vintage; Rebecca de Condé BComm’15, Owner of Effex Curated Vintage; and Marley MacDonald MA’14, Director of Responsibility and Sustainability at the NSLC, who came together to discuss sustainability among their respective professions.

During this event, Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, AVP Diversity Excellence, moderated the discussion which explored how these accomplished professionals seamlessly integrated sustainability into their careers and discovered the art of building meaningful connections through networking.

This thought-provoking and inspirational gathering not only fostered a sense of unity within the Saint Mary’s community but also set a precedent, illuminating the path toward a brighter and more sustainable future.