Students excel in Venture Capital Investment Competition

Students from the Sobey School of Business gained valuable real-world experience and excelled in the recent Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) New England Regional Final held in Boston.

The graduate team, composed of students from the MTEI (Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and MBA programs, took home a top award. “Entrepreneurs and start-ups participate at these events and they determine the winners for Entrepreneurs Choice. Our team won due to their ability to communicate and connect,” says the team’s advisor, Brennan Daley of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Gurprit Singh, MBA student

“Being part of VCIC in Boston was a truly transformative experience for me, giving me a real-world view of venture capital, pushing my critical thinking ability and exposing me to the vibrant Boston entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says MBA student Gurprit Singh. “The experience is not just a competition, but a stepping stone into the dynamic world of venture capital, shaping my skills and expanding my network in venture capital.”

Saint Mary’s participates annually in the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), the world’s largest venture capital competition with over 120 university and graduate school teams competing. VCIC is the only place where students get to be VCs for the day, and startups get an immersion in the fundraising process. The SMU teams compete against U.S. universities in the Northeast region and are judged by their preparation and thoughtful execution as a VC firm.

Top (L-R): Sorav Sogy, Ankit Mittal. Bottom (L-R): Shakkharatul Haque Mehad, Jacky Chiu, Shri Subramanian, Gurprit Singh, Sruthi Ganesapandian, Jack Poirier, Sidney Nuwahereza, Oscar Lu, Brennan Daley.

Sorav Sogy, BComm student

Bachelor of Commerce student Sorav Sogy says, “It's not studying; you're actively managing a Venture Capital (VC) fund as an associate. This involves making investment decisions, raising funds, attending conferences and building crucial relationships with entrepreneurs and VCs. You're making a real impact by working alongside industry leaders, facilitating co-investment deals, and learning directly from senior partners and associates at local VC firms. It’s as real as it gets.”

The university’s excellence in venture capital is well established through consistent winning performances in global competitions, expert faculty dedicated to mentoring students, and successful graduates who often pursue careers in this exciting field.

Mark Raymond, Interim Dean of the Sobey School of Business, notes that the teams from Saint Mary’s are the only Canadian teams competing at this elevated level against teams from prominent U.S. universities including Babson, Dartmouth and Notre Dame. “We are known for giving our students amazing opportunities. This is an example of how SMU students gain an entrepreneurial mindset and are equipped with the knowledge, insights, real work experiences and network to lead and make a positive impact.”

Saint Mary’s students, staff and faculty are paying it forward by hosting a national competition in Halifax in March for other Canadian teams who would otherwise not gain these lessons in entrepreneurship and innovation. "Hosting the Canadian regionals provides an opportunity for students from other schools to compete and engage with our vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem," notes Daley.

David Sobey Retailing Centre attracts retail industry veterans to Advisory Council

The David Sobey Retailing Centre (formerly David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing & Services) at the Sobey School of Business is delighted to welcome retail industry veterans Joe Jackman, Julia Knox, Dave S. Sobey and Wanda Walkden to its Advisory Council.

“The David Sobey Retailing Centre is extremely fortunate to have retail veterans and innovators of this calibre join our experienced Advisory Council,” says Vivek Sood, Executive Vice President, Related Business, Empire Company Limited and Chair, David Sobey Retailing Center Advisory Board. “The Advisory Council directly connects the centre with the retail sector, providing insights into industry issues and trends, and guiding the centre in its mission to shape the future of retail.”

Canada’s retail sector accounts for 15.6 per cent of Canada’s GDP and employs the most people of all sectors in our economy. “The David Sobey Retailing Centre is an integrated player in Canada’s retail community,” says Dr. Ramesh Venkat, Director, David Sobey Retailing Centre. “We are engaged in real-world retail innovation and training, world-class executive education and events, and research in areas vital to the future of retail including technology, AI, consumer psychology and behaviour, e-commerce and retail competition.”

New Advisory Council members:

Joe Jackman, Founder and Executive Chair, Jackman Reinvents

Joe Jackman is the Founder and Chairman of Jackman Reinvents, a management consulting firm specializing in transformative growth, and the CEO of Catapult Capital Partners, a venture capital and advisory firm focused on accelerating the growth of early-stage businesses.

For over 35 years, Jackman has helped leaders of retail, consumer packaged goods and B2B companies strengthen their strategic positions and accelerate value creation. An inductee into the Hall of Legends by the American Marketing Association, he is the author of the book The Reinventionist Mindset and is widely considered to be a leading expert on change and rapid business reinvention.

Julia Knox, Chief Technology and Analytics Officer and Chief Privacy Officer, Empire Company Limited

Responsible for technology, enterprise data and advanced analytics, Knox joined Empire in 2021 bringing with her extensive experience as a highly accomplished executive at Giant Tiger, where she was SVP, E-Commerce & Chief Merchandising Officer.

Knox’s leadership extends to community service; she serves as the Chair of the Board of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and is a founding activator of ShEO, a non-profit venture capital fund supporting women entrepreneurs. She is also a member of the Grocery Board for GS1 Canada.

Dave S. Sobey, Vice President, Operations, Atlantic, Sobeys Inc.

In his role, Sobey is accountable for Atlantic Operations of full-service and community banner stores. These include Sobeys, Foodland, and participating Co-ops within the four Atlantic provinces.

Sobey serves as the 2022-24 Chair of the Grocery Foundation Atlantic to benefit Atlantic Canada’s children’s hospital foundations and as Co-chair of the ‘Charting Our Course’ capital campaign for the Ship Hector Society to restore and relaunch the iconic ship in Pictou County.

Wanda Walkden, Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer, Staples Canada

Walkden leads Human Resources, Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, ensuring the alignment of these critical areas supports the engagement and retention of Staples’ 11,000 associates.

Prior to joining Staples, Walkden was the VP, Human Resources for Lowe’s Canada. She has over twenty-five years of human resources experience gained in a variety of industries including telecommunications, global outsourcing and retail, and has led the Human Resources function for multi-site teams based in Canada, U.S, Europe and Asia Pacific

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The David Sobey Retailing Centre, founded in 2014, was made possible thanks to a generous and visionary gift by the late Dr. David F. Sobey, CM, DComm’91, Chair Emeritus of Sobeys Inc.

To view the full list of David Sobey Retailing Centre Advisory Council members and find out more about the centre, please visit davidsobeycentre.ca

Rare book returning to Saint Mary’s University Archives after featuring in Belgian museum exhibit

Photo credit: Tim Krocak. Photo courtesty of The Chronicle Herald

The star of the university’s rare book collection is on its way back to Saint Mary’s after a successful stint in a Belgian museum exhibit.

The Salzinnes Antiphonal is recognized as a significant historical and cultural artifact by scholars from around the world. It was recently featured in the Centuries of Silence: The Discovery of the Salzinnes Antiphonal exhibition at the TreM.a Museum of Ancient Arts in Namur, Belgium.

The Salzinnes Antiphonal is a 16th-century illuminated choir manuscript containing the liturgical text and music for the Divine Office, which refers to a set of Catholic prayers recited at fixed times throughout the day. The antiphonal was created in 1555 in Namur, Belgium by nuns at the historic Abbey of Salzinnes. Of special significance are several striking illuminated pages within the antiphonal that reveal unique insight into the spiritual and cultural lives of the nuns.  

An illuminated page from the antiphonal.

Running from October 7, 2023 until February 11, 2024 the exhibition was built entirely around the antiphonal and featured a main display of the manuscript, concerts of music from the antiphonal, related exhibitions at other galleries, and a symposium of academic work related to the manuscript organized by Dr. Jennifer Bain of Dalhousie University.

The exhibition was organized by curator and Saint Mary’s University alum Dr. Judith (Judy) Dietz BA'84 MA'07 DLitt’17 who has done significant work to restore and raise awareness of the antiphonal. The exhibition has been a great success with attendance and tours at the Museum of Ancient Art exceeding all expectations.

The antiphonal was likely brought to Nova Scotia in the 1840s or 1850s by Bishop William Walsh, the first Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Halifax. Eventually, Bishop James M. Hayes donated the antiphonal to Saint Mary’s University to celebrate the opening of the Patrick Power Library in 1975. At that time, the antiphonal was catalogued simply as a “Roman Catholic Antiphonary.” Judy Dietz re-discovered the antiphonal in 1999 and later identified it in 2002. Dietz was then the Manager of Collections and Gallery Services at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Since its re-discovery and Dietz’s significant work to preserve the manuscript and raise awareness of its existence, the antiphonal has been studied by scholars around the world with research interests in musicology, music encoding, gender and women’s studies, bookbinding, and more. For more information on the Salzinnes Antiphonal, its history, and its discovery at Saint Mary's University visit: http://www.smu.ca/academics/archives/the-salzinnes-antiphonal.html

A crowd gathers for the exhibition opening ceremony on Oct. 6, 2023.

The Salzinnes Antiphonal on display (to right), featuring reproductions of several illuminated pages.

Facade of the TreM.a Museum of Ancient Arts in Namur, Belgium.

Related links:

• Learn more about the Salzinnes Antiphonal[HC6] [BM7] 

• Centuries of Silence: The Discovery of the Salzinnes Antiphonal exhibition details (in French)

• Agreement signed for historic Salzinnes Antiphonal exhibition

Finance students excel in global competition

The Saint Mary’s team earned eighth place for Canada in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge

Saint Mary’s University students gained valuable real-world experience that will help propel them into careers in capital markets and investment banking, by participating in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge. The Saint Mary’s team, comprised of students in the Sobey School of Business, finished eighth in Canada, 42nd in North America and 113th in the world out of 2,007 teams.

Teams from 309 universities and business schools faced the same challenge: use Bloomberg Terminals to invest $1 million virtual USD and be ranked on the profit/loss margin. “We were nervous,” says Master of Finance student Ifrahim Iftikhar. “We did not want to lose the $1 million (virtual) in the first two or three weeks.”

Team Captain Rehan Habib and the team members Nancy Naadei Kotei-Sass, Ryan Macalalad, Suja R.J. Vikas and Ifrahim Iftikhar are all from the prestigious Master of Finance program. They taught themselves how to use the Bloomberg Terminals from online videos and other resources provided by Bloomberg Education.

Influenced by world events, the students initially took a defensive position and followed a safe 60/40 diversification strategy focused on U.S. stocks, but soon found they were only matching the WLS index (Bloomberg World Large, Mid & Small Cap Price Return Index) which was underperforming at the time. They needed a change in direction to maximize returns over the short, six-week span of the competition.

“Our diversity was a distinct advantage, says Rehan Habib. “ With team members from several countries including India and Pakistan, we had multiple perspectives and important sector insights.”

“We identified that the Indian stock market was doing extremely well, and the Pakistan market was at a historic high,” explains Suja Vikas. “We analysed the market and decided collectively how much risk we could take.” The strategy succeeded and the team secured a $65,000 lead by the competition's end.

Faculty mentor, Dr. Florian Muenkel, says that the competition is particularly valuable for the students studying in the Sobey School of Business. “It’s practical experience. Students learn how to take a large set of assets and identify which ones have the best potential.  They learn that we are all exposed to behavioural biases, and they learn how to overcome them. At the same time, they browse the news and consider macroeconomics and political risk.”

He notes that the Saint Mary’s team was successful due to teamwork—they were able to divide up the tasks and make decisions. “You have to rely on your team; they worked well together.”

Nancy Naadei Kotei-Sass says, “I learned a great deal—how to handle the Bloomberg Terminal and how to trade. Trading in a short period requires a lot of strategies because the market can be your friend today and an enemy tomorrow.” Ifrahim Iftikhar expressed a similar sentiment. “We found that good news such as strong company performance did not necessarily translate into a stock price increase. There were other factors at play. It was an eye-opener.”

Ryan Macalalad says, “The mentorship of faculty members, Dr. Florian Muenkel and Dr. Rahman Khokhar, extended far beyond the four walls of the classroom, inspiring us to explore our potentials as traders, face challenges and strive for excellence. Their encouragement and advice throughout the trading challenge was instrumental in the team’s success."

8,400 students across 38 countries competed in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge, testing their skills in investing $1 million virtual USD. The global event is supported by the research and analytics team at Bloomberg for Education.

The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge tests students annually on generating the highest relative profit and loss return (P&L) via Bloomberg Terminals. Each team is accompanied by a faculty advisor.

Justine Colley-Leger: Inspiring young women with her legacy

This year, Saint Mary’s celebrates the 50th anniversary of women in varsity sport. Throughout the year, we will highlight women in sport at Saint Mary’s, like basketball superstar Justine Colley-Leger BComm'14, who continues to inspire young women athletes today. 

Justine Colley-Leger BComm’14

You could say that sport, specifically basketball, has always been a part of Justine Colley-Leger’s BComm’14 life. In fact, her daycare teachers still talk about how, as a toddler, she would ask them to get the basketball out of the toy box so she could shoot on the four-foot hoop!  

The youngest of five, who grew up in East Preston, Justine’s sports journey began when she was eight years old. Her Mom took her to an open session of the Cole Harbour Rockets for the under-10 age group, and when they got there, Justine was the only kid who could dribble with both hands and reach the hoop.

The coach noticed and told the mother and daughter duo about an under-12 girls' basketball team that was just starting. He encouraged Justine to try out. “That was the start of someone taking notice of my skills and placing me on a trajectory,” she says. “One where I would be playing against older and often more skilled people than myself.”  

For years, she was the smallest kid on the court, coming home with many bumps and bruises. But now, she can see how these experiences of being the underdog helped her build resilience. They also helped build her skill level.   

By the time she was 14, Justine was playing on the high school varsity basketball team at Halifax Grammar School, where she was enrolled for Grades 9-12. Once again, she was playing at a level above her age group and against girls who were many years older.   

To no one’s surprise, Justine excelled and, upon graduation, was recruited by countless Canadian universities and a handful of NCAA schools in the States. Ultimately, she chose to stay in Nova Scotia and attend Saint Mary’s, where her older sister had also gone. “I knew that at some point I’d have to put the basketball down, so that was a part of my decision to go to Saint Mary’s. I was drawn to their strong academic program. Plus, I’m a real homebody,” she adds with a laugh. “I like to see familiar faces and eat home-cooked meals!”  

In her five years at Saint Mary’s, Justine became a basketball superstar. She led the Huskies to two AUS championships and CIS (now U-Sports) silver and bronze medals. She also earned two-time AUS MVP, four-time All-Canadian, and five-time AUS first-team All-Star, while playing more than 40 games with the Canadian national team.   

“Justine was a tremendous leader who helped elevate Saint Mary’s Women’s basketball on the national stage, lifting the team to its first-ever regular season #1 national ranking,” says Head Coach Scott Munro. “A player and person like Justine only come along once in a long while. It was an honour and a pleasure to coach and watch her leave her mark on Saint Mary’s University and Canadian University basketball.”  

To this day, Justine still holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in the history of Canadian women’s university basketball and, in 2019, was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.  

She made some lifelong friends during her years of Huskies basketball and loved playing for the huge crowds their games drew. “It’s rare that a women’s game gets more spectators than the men’s team, but that’s what happened in those days,” she says. “The stands were always full.”  

It’s these types of stories that she loves to share with young women in the hope that they, too, will enjoy the tremendous benefits that sport can bring to life. And with stats showing that pre-teen girls tend to step away from sports as they work their way through their teens, Justine thinks it’s crucial that these girls hear stories of women who have had successful athletic careers in high school and university.   

“When we tell the stories of successful female athletes, this inspires young women to follow that path as well, and then to reap the benefits to their overall well-being - physically, mentally, and socially.”  

Justine began dating her husband, Maj. Nicolas Leger, in her university years. They now have four children and have returned to East Preston to raise their family. She loves being close to her parents and extended family and relishes the strong community vibe of the place she calls home.  

Sport continues to be a considerable part of Justine’s life—she now plays in the semi-professional Maritime Women’s Basketball Association—and six months ago, she accepted the position of Athletic Director at Halifax Grammar School. She’s having a ball and is also putting her Major in Finance to good use, creating budgets and using some of the time management skills she gained during her university years when she had to juggle sports, academics, part-time work, and family life.  

She’s been asked to give presentations on her athletic career within the school and can feel her impact on the students there. “It’s a real privilege to inspire others, especially young people,” says Justine. “I feel so appreciative, fortunate, and blessed to be in this role.” 

By Renée Hartleib 

Student Leadership Conference 2024

The 2024 Student Leadership Conference will take place on March 2, 2024. Come learn new skills, hear from inspiring speakers and have fun meeting new people. This one-day conference is open to all SMU students and includes opportunities to connect with peers, build your leadership skills and have some fun along the way.  The day will feature a leadership primer, discussions with current and emerging student leaders and an inspiring keynote speaker. 

The SMU Student Leadership Conference will bring together students from across campus to connect, learn, laugh and be inspired.  

All students are encouraged to attend, whether you are already involved in leadership activities or just getting started on your leadership journey. You don’t want to miss this. 

The Early Bird Registration deadline is February 9th. Space is limited. Register early to be entered to win one of three $25 SMU Bookstore Gift Cards! The first 100 people who register will receive a free leadership starter kit, including a Saint Mary’s leadership padfolio and guide. Kits and gift cards will be distributed at the conference. Participants must be present to claim theirs. 

Why attend the Student Leadership Conference 2024? 

1. Conference participation is CCR eligible, and all participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end. This looks great on the resume and gives valuable references on the cover letter. 

2. The conference gives students the opportunity to participate in fun and interactive sessions, gain valuable insights and network with like-minded individuals. 

3. There will be prize giveaways throughout the day. 

4. Lunch is provided. 

Event Details 

Date: March 2nd, 2024 

Time: Doors open at 9 a.m. (check-in required at the front desk) 
Conference runs from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Location: Loyola 290 

Registration Is Now Open! 
Register to attend the Student Leadership Conference on March 2nd, 2024! 

Conference Schedule 

9-10 a.m. | Check-In and Coffee 
10-10:15 a.m. | Opening Remarks and Overview of the Day 
10:15-11 a.m. | Leadership Primer by Tom Brophy 
11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Keynote Address 
12-1 p.m. | Lunch (included in registration) 
1-1:50 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions 
1:50-2 p.m. | Break 
2-2:50 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions 
2:50-3 p.m. | Break 
3-3:30 p.m. | Student Leader Panel 
3:30-4 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Ice Cream Social 

Questions? Email studentsuccess@smu.ca  

Transitioning from Co-Curricular Record to new Experience Record

The Saint Mary’s Co-Curricular Record (CCR) program has helped thousands of students connect with, track and validate co-curricular experiences including on- and off-campus volunteering, professional and personal development, leadership, student societies, awards and certificates, and sports and recreational opportunities.

Through the CCR program, students track hours, complete reflections and identify competency development using the university’s Career360° platform. Students use the record during their job search process or for further education or scholarship applications.

As the world of co-curricular and experiential learning evolves, Saint Mary’s University is transitioning from the former Co-Curricular Record model to our new Experience Record model. The Experience Record is a comprehensive document that summarizes a student’s involvement in curricular and co-curricular experiential learning at Saint Mary’s University. “Co-Curricular Record” is now defined as “Co-Curricular Recognition”, and all co-curricular programming will remain the same. Verified Co-Curricular Recognized (CCR) experiences will be documented on the Experience Record.

Some experiences will be automatically populated on a student’s Experience Record through Career360°, while others are submitted via the Co-Curricular Recognition (CCR) Program. The Experience Record includes verified experiences: Co-Curricular Recognized activities, Service Learning, Co-operative Education, Student Employment Initiative, Events/Workshops, Micro Experiential Learning, and more.

The new Experience Record model allows students to publish and sync their Experience Record to their LinkedIn profile in the Licenses and Certifications section. They can also access a URL link to the Record, which can be added to their cover letter or resumé.

For questions or inquiries on how to get involved with the CCR or Experience Record, contact Christy Starkey at Christy.Starkey@smu.ca.

Changing local lives with the SMU United Way campaign

The SMU United Way committee is pleased to announce the schedule of events for the 2024 United Way campaign!

Running from February 12-16, the campaign kicks off with a Pizza Lunch on Monday in Loyola 290. Stop in for a slice, try your luck on the Wheel of Prizes, and take in some special entertainment and speakers.

New this year is the online SMU Scavenger Hunt! How well do you know the Saint Mary’s campus? If you’re a SMU whiz, you could win a prize!

Another new addition to help raise funds is the first-every SMU colouring book, filled with iconic sights from around campus. Pick up your copy of the new Saint Mary’s Colouring Book for $5 at the Book Sale on Tuesday & Thursday in the Colonnade, or in Facilities Management: McNally South—MS011.

Wednesday features some opportunities for self-care, with a free yoga session in the Homburg and massage therapy sessions in the Library, offered by student practitioners from Eastern College. Or stop by for a lunch-hour screening of the Oscar-winning documentary with a SMU connection, The Queen of Basketball.

Wrapping up the week is Lunch-hour Trivia in the Gorsebrook Lounge on Thursday, February 15. Teams of up to four are encouraged to join and put their trivia skills to the test for the chance to win some fun prizes!

All proceeds raised go to the United Way Halifax Community Fund,

When you give, you are helping people who are struggling to keep up with their basic needs: safe shelter, nutritious food, and mental health support. At a time when costs are rising and housing is scarce, United Way Halifax is bridging gaps with short-term and long-term solutions. Your support right now is crucial.

CLICK TO DONATE NOW

Every donation counts and helps to improve people’s daily lives right here in our community. Thank you for your support.

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Event schedule

Campaign Kickoff
Monday, February 12
Noon-1 p.m. | Loyola 290
Pizza for lunch! | Spin the Wheel of Prizes!
Donations appreciated

Books & Games Sale
Tuesday & Thursday, February 13 & 15
10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Loyola Colonnade
Hard cover books, games & puzzles: $2;
Softcover: $1; SMU Campus Colouring Books: $5

Massages Therapy Sessions
Wednesday, Feb. 14
12-4 pm | Patrick Power Library
By Massage Therapy Program, Eastern College
Minimum donation: $5/30 minutes

Trauma-informed Yoga
Wednesday, Feb. 14,
Noon-1 p.m. | Homburg Centre, Studio A
Donations appreciated

Movie Lunch Break!
The Queen of Basketball (22 minutes)
Wednesday, Feb. 14
11:30 a.m. | Film starts at noon sharp
Burke Theatre A
$5 donations at the door

Screen an Oscar-winning documentary with a SMU connection! Directed by Ben Proudfoot, The Queen of Basketball is an electrifying portrait of Lucy Harris, who scored the first basket in women’s Olympic history and was the first and only woman officially drafted into the N.B.A. Harris has remained largely unknown—until now.

Trivia
Thursday, Feb. 15
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Gorsebrook Lounge
$30 for groups of up to four people
Register at the door

Saint Mary’s University launches MyCreds™ digital transcripts

Effective February 6, 2024, Saint Mary’s University students and graduates will now have 24/7 direct access to transcripts via the MyCreds™ platform.

The MyCreds™ platform is a digital document wallet that allows for certifying, sharing, and verifying academic credentials. Saint Mary’s will engage with the platform both as a sender and receiver.

Through MyCreds™, students will be able to securely and conveniently access and share their academic documents with other colleges and universities, government, employers and third parties. Documents issued through MyCreds™ are tamper-evident and cryptographically signed, making them authentic and official.

“At Saint Mary’s, we understand the value and importance of intuitive navigation to services and ease of access for all users,” says Dan Seneker, Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services and University Registrar. “Implementing the MyCreds™ platform allows Saint Mary’s to modernize an important aspect of engaging with and supporting students. We’re excited to meet students’ needs by simplifying the process of transcript sharing and enhancing their user experience.”

Saint Mary’s has adopted the MyCreds™ platform as part of a larger, provincial strategy developed in collaboration with the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents and EduNova.

Students and graduates will gain access to the MyCreds™ platform through the Self-Service Banner and will be prompted to set up their MyCreds™ account upon first access.

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About MyCreds™

MyCreds™ is a national, shared service and platform that provides students and graduates access to a secure, online, password-protected learner credential wallet. This virtual wallet allows them to view and share their verified and official transcripts, credentials, and academic documents in a digitized format on a 24/7 basis – anytime, anywhere. It also enables sharing between organizations with the learner’s permission. Secure, cryptographically signed documents can be sent conveniently and require no further verification. MyCreds™ is the first and only national bilingual system of its kind in Canada. Visit www.mycreds.ca for more details or contact ARUCC’s Executive Lead, Joanne Duklas at info@aruccnationalnetwork.ca.

President’s Award for Excellence in Research: Dr. Luigi Gallo

Dr. Luigi Gallo with Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray at Winter Convocation

Dr. Luigi Gallo was honoured at Winter Convocation with the President’s Award for Excellence in Research for his contributions to astrophysics.

As an astrophysicist in high-profile international research projects, Dr. Luigi Gallo has been involved in major missions with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency, and has received more than $10-million in funding for projects such as the Astro-H Metrology System.

Dr. Luigi Gallo

Dr. Gallo’s research interests include supermassive black holes, or active galactic nuclei, and X-rays emitted from the innermost regions of black hole environments; accretion-powered systems of all scales (e.g. cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, AGN); and the definition and realization of future X-ray missions. His work has led to discoveries that have altered scientists’ understanding of black holes, their formation, growth, behaviour and their influence on the evolution of galaxies.

After a stint in industry, Dr. Gallo returned to academia and completed his PhD at the prestigious Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, and then joined JAXA before becoming a faculty member at Saint Mary’s University in 2007.

A prolific publisher, Dr. Gallo is credited with more than 80 successful observing proposals and more than 150 refereed publications written as part of his research on black holes and instrumentation, work with peers, and as a supervisor to many of his students and postdocs. He has also published work with large collaborations, including papers by the Hitomi Collaboration, which he made significant contributions to, as well as other publications on future missions.

As a professor, Dr. Gallo is focused on supporting the next generation of researchers, co-writing papers with undergraduate and graduate students who have gone on to higher-level studies and research of their own. He contributes significant time and knowledge to the advancement of his field through committee work and outreach initiatives and as a member of the Canadian Astronomical Society.

The President's Award for Excellence in Research honours continued exceptional contributions to research and scholarship conducted by a full-time Saint Mary's University faculty member. More information can be found at smu.ca/fgsr/presidents-award.

Congratulations Dr. Luigi Gallo!

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Recordings of the convocation ceremonies and a PDF of the convocation program are available at smu.ca/graduation. See the photo album on the SMU Halifax Facebook page.

Honouring African Heritage Month at Saint Mary's

February is celebrated as Black History Month. In Nova Scotia, the month is known as African Heritage Month. This theme for 2024 is Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians. 

Each year at this time, Saint Mary's University acknowledges and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black and African Nova Scotia members of our community.  

To help mark the significance of the month, the tri-colour Pan-African flag will be raised in front of the McNally building. The red, black and green flag was created in 1920 to represent the people of the African Diaspora.  

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SMU Huskies Black Heritage Night

Friday, February 2, 2024

The SMU Huskies are celebrating African Heritage Month at the Homburg Centre with a vendor market featuring Black Nova Scotian entrepreneurs, performances, displays and more!

Basketball doubleheader: SMU vs. UNB
Women's basketball: tip-off at 6 p.m
Men's basketball: tip-off at 8 p.m.

Half-time performances with the African Dance Society

Men's hockey game: SMU vs. UPEI
Puck-drop 7 p.m.

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Dynamic Rural Business Series: Rural Black Businesses

Wednesday, February 7, 2024
5–8 p.m.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport

The Black Business Initiative (BBI) and the Sobey School of Business, in collaboration with the Halifax International Stanfield Airport, proudly present the second annual Dynamic Rural Business Series: Rural Black Businesses. Join us for an insightful session where we spotlight rural black businesses, featuring inspiring discussions with their owners and fostering a supportive network.

Our distinguished panelists include Gem Roberts, Dr. Ernest Asante Korankye and Cedric Smiley.

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Cultural Preservation & Community Capacity Building Forum

February 21-22, 2024
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
CLARI (Atrium 340)

This two-day forum is hosted by the Loyalist Connections Creative Society, in collaboration with the Black Cultural Centre and the Faculty of Arts. Students, educators and community members will join together for thought-provoking discussions and podcast recordings on past accomplishments and future opportunities for African Nova Scotian communities. 

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Kemet Udjat: an African Heritage Month film festival

February 27-28, 2024
Scotiabank Theatre, Sobey School of Business and via Zoom

Join us for two nights of film screenings and discussions, in person and online. Presented by Dr. Jean-Blaise Samou, Francophone and Intercultural Studies, with the support of the Office of the Dean of Arts and Alliance Française Halifax. 

Erasing Slavery in Canadian History: A Conversation with Dr. Charmaine Nelson
February 27, 6-7:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 870 2835 6414

Canada enjoys the mythic image of a haven where Black slaves could find refuge through the Underground Railroad. However, historians now reveal Slavery as “Canada’s best-kept secret”. What’s the real story of slavery in Canada and why is it important to discuss it today? Join us to learn more.

Dr. Nelson is a Provost Professor of Art History and the founding Director of the Slavery North Initiative at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which supports research and research-creation on the study of Canadian Slavery and slavery in the US North. 

Hidden Figures (2017) Dir: Theodore Melfi   
February 28, 6-8:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 872 7523 7154
The story of three brilliant African-American women mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. 

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Patrick Power Library book display

Africville File 1 (News Clippings 1985-1989): Lynn Jones African-Canadian and Diaspora Heritage Collection

Throughout February, the Patrick Power Library is featuring a collection of library resources for African Heritage Month, on display on the ground floor of the library. Book recommendations will be shared online throughout the month on our social channels (@smuhfxlibrary). All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card. Browse the full African Heritage Month collection online.

Samples from The Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Heritage Collection will be available at the Cultural Preservation & Community Capacity Building Forum on February 21 and 22, along with Saint Mary’s archives staff to answer your questions. Shawn Smith and other researchers from the Loyalist Connections Creative Society, and SMU's Dr. Kirrily Freeman, have been using the Lynn Jones Collection to research topics for the forum.

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Related stories and resources:

• Student launches Black haircare and beauty supply vending machine on campus

• Embracing the power of writing with new Kane Award

• Saint Mary’s African Student Society brings back African Night

• Bob Dawson, leader in the fight against racism, to receive an honorary doctorate

• African Descended/Black Student Support

• Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Collection

• Local African Heritage Month events

Saint Mary's partners with KW Legacy to promote Sobey National Innovator Scholarships

Students in the Sobeys Inspiration Hub

Saint Mary's University and KW Legacy are pleased to announce a unique enterprise to promote an exceptional scholarship opportunity. Under this partnership, KW Legacy will publicize the Sobey National Innovator Scholarships to students in the Waterloo region who want to pursue their post-secondary education at the Sobey School of Business in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  

“We believe that by working together, we can make a true difference in the lives of those in our region and support students in their post-secondary dreams. We are proud to partner with Saint Mary's University and support the unique opportunities they provide for so many students. Adding more students from the KW region to the Atlantic Canada mix is a great opportunity to learn, share, and grow between provinces and regions,” says Peter Kalbfleisch, KW Legacy. “Thank you to Saint Mary's and the Sobey School of Business for helping us support students in our region, helping develop our future leaders and making a significant impact in the lives of our youth and community.”  

“We appreciate and are grateful for the support of KW Legacy and the Sobey National Innovator Scholarships to provide a student within the Waterloo Region with a scholarship to Saint Mary’s University,” said Jeewan Chanicka, Director of Education for the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). “This financial support represents the type of partnership that can provide opportunities for students to continue their academic journey and provide more equitable access to a university education as they work towards achieving their full potential in learning and in life.” 

“These scholarships represent a significant opportunity for personal and professional growth for the recipients, embodying the transformative power of education. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Saint Mary’s University, KW Legacy, and Sobeys, which reflects our commitment to nurturing young minds. This scholarship will make a profound difference in the lives of its recipients, and we are honored to be part of this exciting announcement,” said Lema Salaymeh, Senior Manager of Communications, Waterloo Catholic District School Board. 

The Sobey National Innovator Scholarships are exclusive to Saint Mary’s University and the Sobey School of Business. There are ten renewable entrance awards valued at $50,000 over four years awarded annually. These scholarships are presented to ten exceptional Canadian students each year in recognition of their accomplishments and as encouragement and support for their success in the Sobey School of Business. The initial scholarship in academic year one is $20,000. The renewal value in academic years two–four is $10,000 per year. The total value of each scholarship over four years is $50,000.  

The Sobey National Innovator Scholarship recipients also become members of the Sobey Scholars Network, a special cohort that includes all current and past students, alumni, Chair holders, named Professors and Post-Doctoral Fellows who have been the recipients of philanthropic financial support from the Sobey Family, The Sobey Foundation, Sobeys Inc., and Empire Company Limited.   

“The Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sobey School of Business is one of Canada’s most respected programs at one of Canada's top three undergraduate universities," says Mark Raymond, Interim Dean of the Sobey School of Business. "We teach our Bachelor of Commerce students more than how a good business runs. We show them how to run a business for good—for the long-term and for a better, more sustainable, more responsible world. We equip our students with the knowledge and insights to lead with purpose, and they graduate prepared to make a positive impact on business, organizations and on society."